Sexual Orientation, Gender, and Gender Identity Microaggressions: Toward an Intersectional Framework for Prevention Research

Microaggressions are a covert, subtle, and often unconsciously perpetrated form of discrimination that can negatively impact the target’s mental and behavioral health. Although microaggressions can contribute to health disparities for marginalized groups, little is known about the frequency, mechanisms, and impact of microaggressions on sexual minorities, cisgender women, and gender minorities—particularly for those with intersecting marginalized identities (e.g., Black transwomen). This 20x20 extends our current understanding of microaggressions by (a) examining the theoretical mechanisms of minority stress and historical, vicarious, and individual-level trauma that can potentially explain the impact of microaggressions on health and well-being and (b) proposing future research directions for prevention science that explore the potential influence of developmental processes (e.g., physical maturation and identity development) and social contexts (e.g., family, education, and supportive safe spaces) on mental and behavioral health outcomes. For example, gender-based microaggressions (e.g., sexual objectification) may start earlier and be more impactful for girls who experience early menarche, while transgender microaggressions may be more impactful when experienced within spaces that are designed to be safe and supportive (e.g., transwomen telling other transwomen how to properly enact femininity) in comparison to microaggressions experienced by strangers on the street. This presentation concludes with a discussion of the implications of an intersectional microaggression framework for prevention research and practice. While it remains essential for prevention researchers to understand the nature and effects of single-identity based forms of microaggressions (e.g., microaggressions experienced by a White, heterosexual, able-bodied, cisgender female), a multiplicative model is needed that recognizes single incidents of intersectional microaggressions that simultaneously target multiple aspects of an individual’s identity (i.e., race, gender identity, and sexual orientation) may be profoundly more impactful.