Hostname: page-component-857557d7f7-fn92c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-12-01T07:47:00.768Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Structural Microaggressions for Explaining Outcome Gaps

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 October 2023

Mikio Akagi Open the ORCID record for Mikio Akagi [Opens in a new window]
Mikio Akagi*
Affiliation:
Trilateral Research Ltd., Waterford, Ireland
*
Email: mikio.akagi@trilateralresearch.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Microaggressions are hypothesized to play a causal role in undesirable population effects such as racial health gaps, but the mechanisms through which this occurs are not yet well understood. I call inquiry about these mechanisms the “explanatory project.” I suggest that the explanatory project has been hindered by microaggression concepts tailored to be applicable under conditions of lived uncertainty, rather than to facilitate understanding of structural causes. I defend a pluralist, structural account of microaggressions from objections by Regina Rini that, while appropriate for ethical projects, do not apply to the explanatory project.

Information

Type
Symposia Paper
Information
Philosophy of Science , Volume 91 , Issue 5 , December 2024 , pp. 1199 - 1209
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Philosophy of Science Association

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Akagi, Mikio. 2018. “Rethinking the Problem of Cognition.” Synthese 195 (8): 3547–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-017-1383-2.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Akagi, Mikio, and Gooding, Frederick W., Jr. 2021. “Microaggressions and Objectivity: Experimental Measures and Lived Experience.” Philosophy of Science 88 (5): 1090–100. https://doi.org/10.1086/715219.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Aroke, Edwin N., Joseph, Paule V., Abhrarup Roy, Demario S. Overstreet, Trygve Tollefsbol, Vance, David E., and Goodin, Burel R.. 2019. “Could Epigenetics Help Explain Racial Disparities in Chronic Pain?” Journal of Pain Research 2019 (12): 701–10. https://doi.org/10.2147/JPR.S191848.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bartky, Sandra Lee. 1990. Femininity and Domination: Studies in the Phenomenology of Oppression. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Branscombe, Nyla R., Schmitt, Michael T., and Harvey, Richard D.. 1999. “Perceiving Pervasive Discrimination among African Americans: Implications for Group Identification and Well-Being.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 77 (1): 135–49. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.77.1.135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carter, Robert T. 2007. “Racism and Psychological and Emotional Injury: Recognizing and Assessing Race-Based Traumatic Stress.” The Counseling Psychologist 35 (1): 13–105. https://doi.org/10.1177/0011000006292033.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crenshaw, Kimberlé. 1989. “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and Sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory and Antiracist Politics.” University of Chicago Legal Forum 1989 (1): 139–67.Google Scholar
Crocker, Jennifer, and Major, Brenda. 1989. “Social Stigma and Self-Esteem: The Self-Protective Properties of Stigma.” Psychological Review 96 (4): 608–30. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.96.4.608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dotson, Kristie. 2011. “Tracking Epistemic Violence, Tracking Practices of Silencing.” Hypatia 26 (2): 236–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1527-2001.2011.01177.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, Cameron, and Mallon, Ron. 2020. “Microaggressions, Mechanisms, and Harm.” In Microaggressions and Philosophy, edited by Freeman, Lauren and Schroer, Jeanine Weekes, 67–78. New York: Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fatima, Saba. 2017. “On the Edge of Knowing: Microaggression and Epistemic Uncertainty as a Woman of Color.” In Surviving Sexism in Academia: Feminist Strategies for Leadership, edited by Cole, Kirsti and Hassel, Holly, 147–54. New York: Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Freeman, Lauren, and Stewart, Heather. 2018. “Microaggressions in Clinical Medicine.” Kennedy Institute of Ethics Journal 28 (4): 411–49. https://doi.org/10.1353/ken.2018.0024.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Freeman, Lauren, and Stewart, Heather. 2020. “Sticks and Stones Can Break Your Bones and Words Can Really Hurt You: A Standpoint Epistemological Reply to Critics of the Microaggression Research Program.” In Microaggressions and Philosophy, edited by Freeman, Lauren and Schroer, Jeanine Weekes, 36–66. New York: Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fricker, Miranda. 2007. Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing. Oxford: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Friedlaender, Christina. 2018. “On Microaggressions: Cumulative Harm and Individual Responsibility.” Hypatia 33 (1): 5–21. https://doi.org/10.1111/hypa.12390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gee, Gilbert C., and Ford, Chandra L.. 2011. “Structural Racism and Health Inequities: Old Issues, New Directions.” Du Bois Review 8 (1): 115–32. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742058X11000130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gee, Gilbert C., Spencer, Michael, Chen, Juan, and Takeuchi, David T.. 2007. “A Nationwide Study of Discrimination and Chronic Health Conditions among Asian Americans.” American Journal of Public Health 97 (7): 1275–82. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.091827.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gee, Gilbert C., Michael Spencer, Juan Chen, Yip, Tiffany, and Takeuchi, David T.. 2007. “The Association between Self-Reported Racial Discrimination and 12-Month DSM-IV Mental Disorders among Asian Americans Nationwide.” Social Science and Medicine 64 (10): 1984–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2007.02.013.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Goosby, Bridget J., and Heidbrink, Chelsea. 2013. “Transgenerational Consequences of Racial Discrimination for African American Health.” Social Compass 7 (8): 630–43. https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.12054.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harrell, Jules P., Hall, Sadiki, and Taliaferro, James. 2003. “Physiological Responses to Racism and Discrimination: An Assessment of the Evidence.” American Journal of Public Health 93 (2): 243–48. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.93.2.243.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harrell, Shelly P. 2000. “A Multidimensional Conceptualization of Racism-Related Stress: Implications for the Well-Being of People of Color.” American Journal of Orthopsychiatry 70 (1): 42–57. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0087722.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Haueis, Philipp. forthcoming. “A Generalized Patchwork Approach to Scientific Concepts.” British Journal for the Philosophy of Science. https://doi.org/10.1086/716179.Google Scholar
Hollingsworth, David W., Cole, Ashely B., O’Keefe, Victoria M., Tucker, Raymond P., Story, Chandra R., and Wingate, LaRicka R.. 2017. “Experiencing Racial Microaggressions Influences Suicide Ideation through Perceived Burdensomeness in African Americans.” Journal of Counseling Psychology 64 (1): 104–11. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hurd, Noelle M., Varner, Fatima A., Caldwell, Cleopatra H., and Zimmerman, Marc A.. 2014. “Does Perceived Racial Discrimination Predict Changes in Psychological Distress and Substance Use over Time? An Examination among Black Emerging Adults.” Developmental Psychology 50 (7): 1910–18. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0036438.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khader, Serene J. 2012. “Must Theorising About Adaptive Preferences Deny Women’s Agency?” Journal of Applied Philosophy 29 (4): 302–17. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-5930.2012.00575.x.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kuzawa, Christopher W., and Sweet, Elizabeth. 2009. “Epigenetics and the Embodiment of Race: Developmental Origins of Us Racial Disparities in Cardiovascular Health.” American Journal of Human Biology 21 (1): 2–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajhb.20822.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lau, Michael Y., and Williams, Chantea D.. 2010. “Microaggression Research: Methodological Review and Recommendations.” In Microaggressions and Marginality: Manifestation, Dynamics, and Impact, edited by Sue, Derald Wing, 313–36. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.Google Scholar
Liao, Shen-yi, and Huebner, Bryce. 2020. “Oppressive Things.” Philosophy and Phenomenological Research. 133 (1):92–103. https://doi.org/10.1111/phpr.12701.Google Scholar
Lilienfeld, Scott O. 2017. “Microaggressions: Strong Claims, Inadequate Evidece.” Perspectives on Psychological Science 12 (1): 128–69. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691616659391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mays, Vickie M., Cochran, Susan D., and Barnes, Namdi W.. 2007. “Race, Race-Based Discrimination, and Health Outcomes among African Americans.” Annual Review of Psychology 58: 201–25. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.57.102904.190212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McClure, Emma, and Rini, Regina. 2020. “Microaggression: Conceptual and Scientific Issues.” Philosophy Compass 15 (4): e12659. https://doi.org/10.1111/phc3.12659.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
McTernan, Emily. 2018. “Microaggressions, Equality, and Social Practices.” Journal of Political Philosophy 26 (3): 261–81. https://doi.org/10.1111/jopp.12150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nadal, Kevin L., Davidoff, Kristin C., Davis, Lindsey S., Wong, Yinglee, Marshall, David, and McKenzie, Victoria. 2015. “A Qualitative Approach to Intersectional Microaggressions: Understanding Influences of Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Sexuality, and Religion.” Qualitative Psychology 2 (2): 147–63. https://doi.org/10.1037/qup0000026.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Novick, Rose, and Haueis, Philipp. 2023. “Patchworks and Operations.” European Journal for Philosophy of Science 13:15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13194-023-00515-y.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Okazaki, Sumie. 2009. “Impact of Racism on Ethnic Minority Mental Health.” Perspectives on Psychological Science 4 (1): 103–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6924.2009.01099.x.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Olkin, Rhoda, Hayward, H’Sien, Abbene, Melody Schaff, and VanHeel, Goldie. 2019. “The Experiences of Microaggressions against Women with Visible and Invisible Disabilities.” Journal of Social Issues 75 (3): 757–85. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12342.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pérez Huber, Lindsay, and Solorzano, Daniel G.. 2015. “Racial Microaggressions as a Tool for Critical Race Research.” Race Ethnicity and Education 18 (3): 297–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2014.994173.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pierce, Chester. 1970. “Offensive Mechanisms.” In The Black Seventies, edited by Barbour, Floyd B., 265–82. Boston, MA: Porter Sargent.Google Scholar
Rini, Regina. 2020. “Taking the Measure of Microaggression: How to Put Boundaries on a Nebulous Concept.” In Microaggressions and Philosophy, edited by Freeman, Lauren and Schroer, Jeanine Weekes, 101–20. New York: Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rini, Regina. 2021. The Ethics of Microaggression. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
Solorzano, Daniel G. 1998. “Critical Race Theory, Race and Gender Microaggressions, and the Experience of Chicana and Chicano Scholars.” International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education 11 (1): 121–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/095183998236926.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sue, Derald Wing. 2010a. Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.Google Scholar
Sue, Derald Wing. 2010b. “Microaggressions, Marginality, and Oppression: An Introduction.” In Microaggressions and Marginality: Manifestation, Dynamics, and Impact, edited by Wing, Sue Derald, 3–22. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.Google Scholar
Sue, Derald Wing. 2017. “Microaggressions and ‘Evidence’: Empirical or Experiential Reality?” Perspectives on Psychological Science 12 (1): 170–2. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691616664437.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sue, Derald Wing, Capodilupo, Christina M., Torino, Gina C., Bucceri, Jennifer M., Holder, Aisha M. B., Nadal, Kevin L., and Esquilin, Marta. 2007. “Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life: Implications for Clinical Practice.” American Psychologist 62 (4): 271–86. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.62.4.271.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thompson, Morgan. 2020. “Psychological Research on Racial Microaggressions: Community Science and Concept Explication.” In Microaggressions and Philosophy, edited by Freeman, Lauren and Schroer, Jeanine Weekes, 79–100. New York: Routledge.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Torres, Lucas, Driscoll, Mark W., and Burrow, Anthony L.. 2010. “Racial Microaggressions and Psychological Functioning among Highly Achieving African-Americans: A Mixed-Methods Approach.” Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 29 (10): 1071099. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2010.29.10.1074.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tschaepe, Mark. 2016. “Addressing Microaggressions and Epistemic Injustice: Flourishing from the Work of Audre Lorde.” Essays in the Philosophy of Humanism 24 (1): 87–101. https://doi.org/10.1558/eph.31404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, Monnica T. 2020. “Microaggressions: Clarification, Evidence, and Impact.” Perspectives on Psychological Science 15 (1): 3–26. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691619827499.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wong, Gloria, Derthick, Annie O., David, E. J. R., Saw, Anne, and Okazaki, Sumie. 2014. “The What, the Why, and the How: A Review of Racial Microaggressions Research in Psychology.” Race and Social Problems 6:181–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12552-013-9107-9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wylie, Alison. 2003. “Why Standpoint Matters.” In Science and Other Cultures: Issues in Philosophies of Science and Technology, edited by Figueroa, Robert and Harding, Sandra, 26–48. New York: Routledge. Google Scholar