Reviewing Racial Microaggressions Research: Documenting Targets’ Experiences, Harmful Sequelae, and Resistance Strategies
Abstract
In this article, we review the theoretical and empirical literature on racial microaggressions from 2007 to 2020 ( N = 138 articles). First, we refine racial microaggressions theory and update the definition to address mischaracterizations in the literature and clarify the term (i.e., "micro" refers to microlevel interactions rather than degree of harm). Next, we used four superordinate categories (i.e., pathologizing differences, denigrating and pigeonholing, excluding or rendering invisible, and perpetuating color-blind racial attitudes) in which to situate racial microaggression themes from the extant literature. Moreover, we consolidated and renamed existing themes to privilege targets' perspectives (e.g., facing assumptions of inferior status and enduring exoticization ). We then synthesized qualitative and quantitative research that shows harmful sequelae of racial microaggressions (i.e., psychological and physiological symptoms). Extending prior research on coping with gendered racial microaggressions, we describe empirical findings on collective, resistance, and self-protective strategies to mitigate the harmful impact of racial microaggressions. We conclude with directions for future research.
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Racism, including experiencing racial microaggressions, and related stress are associated with later inflammation, chronic health conditions, suicidal ideation, externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and alcohol-related problems.
“Racism, including experiencing racial microaggressions, and related stress, have become even more pronounced problems during the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are associated with later inflammation, chronic health conditions, suicidal ideation, externalizing and internalizing symptoms, and alcohol-related problems (Liu and Modir, 2020;Spanierman et al., 2021;Williams, 2020;Williams et al., 2023).”
From A pilot study of experiencing racial microaggressions, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and the role of psychological flexibility (2023) · cites this paper as Spanierman et al., 2021
There is strong support in the literature for mindfulness, values, and acceptance-based therapies, such as ACT, to support those experiencing microaggressions in a culturally humble way by strengthening psychological flexibility, reflective coping skills, and resilience.
“There is strong support in the literature for mindfulness, values, and acceptance-based therapies, such as ACT, to support those experiencing microaggressions in a culturally humble way by strengthening psychological flexibility, reflective coping skills, and resilience (Martinez et al., 2022b;Neblett, 2019;Spanierman et al., 2021).”
From A pilot study of experiencing racial microaggressions, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and the role of psychological flexibility (2023) · cites this paper as Spanierman et al., 2021
Cites
Understanding Everyday Racism: An Interdisciplinary Theory
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Critical Race Theory, Racial Microaggressions, and Campus Racial Climate for Latina/o Undergraduates
Yosso, T., Smith, W., Ceja, M., & Solórzano, D. (2009) · Harvard Educational Review · doi:10.17763/haer.79.4.m6867014157m707l · Cited by 1,221 · see citing works
Political activism and mental health among Black and Latinx college students
Hope, E. C., Velez, G., Offidani-Bertrand, C., Keels, M., & Durkee, M. I. (2018) · Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology · doi:10.1037/cdp0000144 · Cited by 209 · see citing works
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Browning, M. E., Lloyd-Richardson, E. E., Satterfield, S. L., & Trisal, A. V. (2023) · Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1017/s1352465823000188 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
- Authors
- Spanierman, L. B., Clark, D. A., & Kim, Y.
- Affiliations
- Arizona State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Spanierman, Lisa B.
- Venue
- Perspectives on Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2021-09
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1037-1059
- ISSN
- 1745-6916 (ISSN-L)
- 1745-6924
- OpenAlex
- W3196996631
- Cited by
- 92
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 25 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 3
- FWCI
- 19.39
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Perspectives on Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Racial and Ethnic Identity Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Counseling Practices and Supervision
- Keywords
- racial microaggressions, colorblind racism, exoticization, psychological sequelae, physiological stress response, coping strategies, resistance strategies
- MeSH terms
- Microaggression, Aggression, Attitude, Humans, Racial Groups, Racism
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