Microaggressions with a macro-effect Improving inclusion in the public sector by investigating microaggressions: A case study on experiences of minority ethnic employees at the Dutch Central Government
Keywords
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Issue Date
2023-07-04
Language
en
Document type
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Title
ISSN
Volume
Issue
Startpage
Endpage
DOI
Abstract
As someone who fits in a minority category, I have faced several aggressions that express a misfit with the ‘norm’. This had negative effects privately, but also tend to influence one’s work. This intrigued me to do research about microaggressions in order to find out how they come to life in a work setting of the public sector, and what impact such aggressions have. Reading the literature, I realised that microaggressions are often described from a perspective of the aggressors, neglecting the experiences of receivers. In order to address this research gap, this study is about how receivers experience microaggressions, especially those employed at a large, public institution as the Dutch Central Government, and how it affects their work experience. By utilising qualitative research methods, members of the Multicultural Network of Government Officials were interviewed. After analysing the data, it became apparent that receivers experience microaggressions as an ongoing process. The first phase is exposure, which is the actual experience with a microaggression. This first phase initiates a second phase, which is reactivity and comprises the extent to which a receiver reacts cognitively, emotionally, and behaviourally to a microaggression. These two phases act as a cycle, alternating each other constantly, impacting work experience. This research concludes with the theory that microaggressions create a strong feeling of exclusion through the creation of in- and out-groups. As with exposure and reactivity, leadership influences the perception of the work experience at the Dutch Central Government significantly through work culture, indicating the important role of leaders in the exposure and reactivity of microaggressions. Therefore, future research endeavours should be aimed at the role of inclusive leadership in reducing microaggressions at the Dutch Central Government. The limitations of this research revolved around studying a sensitive topic, researcher biases, and a narrow sample.
Description
Citation
Supervisor
Faculty
Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen