Abstract
Research describes several sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions that sexual and gender minority (SGM) people might experience. We aimed to examine the occurrence of different sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions among SGM youth and to identify differences by sexual and gender identity, and sex assigned at birth. Open-ended questions about daily experiences were coded for 16 types of sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions in two daily diary studies among Dutch SGM youth (Study 1: N = 90, M age = 17.64 SD = 1.78; Study 2: N = 393, M age = 18.36 SD = 2.65). Several types of microaggressions were identified, and there was sizable variability in the reported frequency. Overall, lesbian women and bisexual youth were less likely to report microaggressions than gay youth. Bisexual youth were less likely to report use of heterosexist or transphobic terminology than gay youth and youth assigned male at birth were less likely to report invalidation of LGBTQ identity than youth assigned female at birth. Last, gender minority youth were more likely to report familial microaggressions, invalidation of LGBTQ identity, and threatening behaviors than cisgender youth. Overall, this study provides empirical support using mixed qualitative and quantitative methods for theorized typologies of microaggressions among Dutch SGM youth.
Highlights
Bisexual youth were less likely to report microaggressions than gay youth
Data from the first study were used to examine which sexual and gender identity-based microaggressions Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth reported and in the second study, we were able to study differences by sexual and gender identity, and sex assigned at birth
The three microaggression types that were reported by most participants described experiences where heterosexist/transphobic language was used to degrade participants, experiences in which it was assumed that all SGM people are similar/have similar experiences, and experiences in which
Summary
Bisexual youth were less likely to report microaggressions than gay youth. Bisexual youth were less likely to report use of heterosexist or transphobic terminology than gay youth and youth assigned male at birth were less likely to report invalidation of LGBTQ identity than youth assigned female at birth. Additional types of microaggressions include non-physical assaultive experiences (threatening behaviors, Nadal et al, 2011), an everpresent threat of verbal harassment or physical violence (physical threat or harassment, Nadal et al, 2012), entitlement by others to objectify one’s body (denial of body privacy, Nadal et al, 2012), disapproval by family in a microaggressive manner (familial microaggressions, Nadal et al, 2012), the presence of environmental or systematic microaggressions (systematic microaggressions, Nadal et al, 2012), and the questioning or undermining of one’s sexual or gender identity by others (invalidation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer [LGBTQ] identity, Munro et al, 2019). By not examining these microaggressions in their entirety, a comprehensive understanding of SGM youth’s experiences is obstructed
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