Detecting and transforming microaggressions (Exercise)
- You will need: pen and paper
- Estimated time: 25 minutes
Task description
Read the following statements and complete the table below for each of the statement according to the example. When you’re done, you can move on to the next page where there are possible results.
| Statement | Possible message for listener |
| To a trans masculine person: „You should act more masculine.“ | You should act like a man because that is normal. You are not normal. |
| „My friend is trans too, do you know her?“ | |
| „You look nice, not like transgender.“ | |
| „Where do you tuck it? Can I feel your breasts?“ |
Here you can read possible solutions:
| Statement | Possible message for listener |
| To a trans masculine person: „You should act more masculine.“ | You should act like a man because that is normal. You are not normal. |
| „My friend is trans too, do you know her?“ | Trans persons identify and know each other.
|
| „You look nice, not like transgender.“ | Transgender persons are recognizable and do not look nice.
|
| „Where do you tuck it? Can I feel your breasts?“ | You are different or abnormal, so I am going to
objectify your body and ask you inappropriate questions.
|
Now you can think about the four situations and how the statements can be said differently and better.
| Statement | Affirmative statement and behaviour |
| To a trans masculine person: „You should act more masculine.“ | |
| „My friend is trans too, do you know her?“ | |
| „You look nice, not like transgender.“ | |
| „Where do you tuck it? Can I feel your breasts?“ |
Here you can read possible solutions:
| Transphobic statement | Affirmative statement and behaviour |
| To a trans masculine person: „You should act more masculine.“ | It is OK to be you. |
| „My friend is trans too, do you know her?“ | Better say nothing, if your friend wants your help with meeting new people, they will ask you. |
| „You look nice, not like transgender.“ | You look nice. |
| „Where do you tuck it? Can I feel your breasts?“ | it is inappropriate to say such a thing. If you want to somehow comment on the appearance of a trans woman, „It suits you” will be sufficient.
|
