An emerging theory of the persistence of social class microaggressions: an interpretative phenomenological study

ABSTRACT

Eleven counselor education doctoral students participated in an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis study aimed to understand their social class microaggressions (SCMs) experiences. A tentative theory emerged from the data that SCMs persist to preserve homeostasis. The super-ordinate theme, Unequal, Embedded, Societal Structures is corroborated by the subordinate themes, Social Class Invisibility, Intersecting Identities, Perceptions and Assumptions about Social Class, Privilege and Unawareness about Social Class, and SCM Manifestations. Together, the superordinate theme and subsequent subordinate themes culminate in the preservation of homeostasis. We offer a data driven model to depict the theory, present participant data with extensive quotes, counseling implications, future research, and a call to the profession to resist the pull of homeostasis so SCMs no longer serve a socio-cultural purpose to oppress others.

KEYWORDS:

• Social class
• microaggressions
• counseling
• socioeconomic status
• IPA

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jennifer M. Cook

Jennifer M. Cook holds a PhD in counselor education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, US, and is assistant professor of counselor education and counseling psychology at Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US. Her research focuses on social class, socioeconomic status, identity intersectionality, and overall multicultural development in counselors and counselors in training.

Caroline C. O’Hara

Caroline C. O’Hara, Ph.D., LPC (GA), NCC is a scholar and advocate working as an Assistant Professor in the Counseling and Human Services Department at Syracuse University, located in Syracuse, New York, US. She currently serves as Coordinator of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. Dr. O’Hara’s scholarly interests include multicultural counseling competence and advocacy, with a particular emphasis on microaggressions.