Microaggression in the Workplace Quiz

Example Questions From the Test

• 1What most clearly distinguishes a possible microaggression from an ordinary awkward interaction?
  • Someone feels embarrassed during the conversation
  • The interaction lasts only a few seconds
  • The people involved have different job titles
  • The message draws meaning from an identity-related stereotype, exclusion, or history, considered alongside context and impact
• 2Which is the clearest example of an environmental microaggression?
  • A team chooses a smaller room because attendance is expected to be low
  • Two colleagues disagree about the best layout for a shared workspace
  • An office replaces worn furniture with a different style
  • A leadership display presents only one demographic as the organization’s historical and current image of authority
• 3After making an identity-linked assumption, which apology best supports repair?
  • “I’m sorry. I made an assumption that had a harmful impact. Thank you for telling me; I’ll work not to repeat it.”
  • “I treat everyone the same, so let’s agree this was a misunderstanding.”
  • “I already apologized, so bringing it up again is unfair.”
  • “I’m sorry you took it that way, but that wasn’t what I meant.”