Racial microaggressions in Australia: the experiences of refugee and migrant groups

• Grant number: 22/14309-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: March 31, 2023
• End date: February 12, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Experimental Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Helena Leite Hunziker
• Grantee: Táhcita Medrado Mizael
• Supervisor: Bernard John Guerin
• Host Institution: Instituto de Psicologia (IP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University of South Australia (UniSA), Australia
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/02548-7 - Coercion, oppression and black woman's loneliness: a behavior-analytical investigation, BP.PD

Abstract

Racial microaggressions can be defined as subtle, unintentional, and daily racial slurs that are committed against members of minoritized racial groups. Although racial microaggressions have been reported to relate to a myriad of negative health outcomes, such as anxiety, depression, stress, and low self-esteem, the research on racial microaggressions have been carried out mainly in the United States and Canada. Given the social nature of racial classifications and, therefore, racism in our society, it could be important to compare data from different countries to have a more complete account of the phenomena, which could lead to major efforts to reduce those types of aggressions. This project has, therefore, three aims: 1) to conduct a quantitative analysis of racial microaggressions experienced by minority individuals (predominantly refugee and migrant) in Australia (Study 1a); 2) to select a sample Study 1a to discuss the most frequent racial microaggressions experienced by these participants, and to use contextual methodologies to analyse the functions of people making those microaggressions in context; and 3) to use participatory methods and participate with some Black women from Study 1a to experience those microaggressions in situ and better document the contexts which shape such behaviours. (AU)