Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Coding Microaggressions Committed By First-Year Students, Katherine Kindy, Meghan Dunn

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

Background

Microaggressions are forms of sexism, racism, and homophobia communicated through derogatory slights, including telling harmful jokes or making judgments about someone’s perceived identity. Previous research has shown microaggressions have a significant impact on college students' sense of self and belonging, often making them feel isolated on campus (McGabe, 2009). In order to assess exclusionary behavior, we asked first-year students if they have committed microaggressions and, if so, in what context.

Methods

We recruited 218 first-year Chapman University students (74% women, 24% men, 2% trans/non-binary; Mage = 18). Participants took a 20-minute survey asking about their overall college experiences and, …