What is a microaggression?
A microaggression is a comment or action that negatively targets a marginalised person or group. A microaggression can be intentional or accidental. It is a form of discrimination.
The person sending the message may not realise that it is a microaggression. In some cases, a microaggression can be disguised as a compliment. Microaggression can be:
1. Racial
2. Sexist
3. Misogynistic
4. Heterosexist
Types of microaggression
Verbal: A common or question that is stigmatising to a marginalised group or person (e.g. ‘you're so smart for a woman')
Behavioural: Behaving in a way that is discriminatory to a marginalised person or group (e.g. when a waiter ignores a transgender and serves a cisgender person instead)
Environmental: Subtle discriminations that occur within societies (e.g. when a college campus only has buildings named after people of a certain race)
Classifications of microaggression:
1. | Microassault: Behaves in a discriminatory way while not intending to be offensive |
2. | Microinsults: This is a comment or action that is unintentionally discriminatory |
3. | Microinvalidations: When a person’s comment invalidates or undermines the experiences of a marginalised group |
Link between microagressions and implicit bias
Microaggressions are a subtle form of prejudice. Implicit bias is the unconscious prejudice in favour of or against one person or group.
Microaggressions are often an expression of implicit bias. However, if a person understands that their comments or actions are microaggressions and continues behaving in the same way, the prejudice they express is explicit bias.
How to avoid commiting microaggressions
1. | Listen to the person receiving the microaggression and empathise with their feelings |
2. | Try not to be defensive or dismiss the person’s feelings |
3. | Take responsibility for any underlying bias held toward certain groups |
4. | Take steps to become more educated and understanding |
5. | Commit to changing microaggressive behaviours |
What to do if someone commits a microaggression
1. | Respond to the microaggression if it's safe to do so |
2. | Discuss the incident briefly and arrange to discuss it with the person again later |
3. | Let the person know how the microaggression made you feel and why it is significant |
4. | Criticise the microaggression, not the person |
5. | Take care of yourself by seeking social support and self-care techniques |
6. | Avoid taking on work related to marginalisation |
7. | Call out the microaggression |