Measurement of Intersectional Microaggressions: Conceptual Barriers and Recommendations

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Intersectionality Studies

Background:

• Kimberlé Crenshaw's 1989 concept of intersectionality highlights the complexity of multiple identities.
• Quantitative psychology struggles to measure intersectional experiences and microaggressions.
• Existing research on racialized sexual harassment and sexual racism in queer/trans communities lacks systematic measurement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define intersectionality and microaggressions relevant to lived experiences.
• To review current measures for their ability to capture intersectional identities.
• To propose a framework for a more comprehensive microaggression measure for diverse populations.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of intersectionality and microaggressions.
• Literature review of existing measurement tools.
• Development of a proposed measurement framework.

Main Results:

• Current quantitative measures inadequately capture the depth of intersectional experiences.
• There is a need for systematic measurement of microaggressions across diverse identities.
• A framework is proposed to improve the accuracy and comprehensiveness of such measures.

Conclusions:

• Developing robust measures for intersectional microaggressions is crucial for understanding bias.
• The proposed framework aims to better represent the experiences of marginalized groups, particularly queer and trans people of color.
• Further research should focus on validating and implementing comprehensive intersectional measures.