Microaggressions

Microaggressions are small, subtle, often unconcious actions that marginalize people in oppressed groups. For example:

• A black man is crossing the street. He hears the sound of door locks clicking closed from the cars stopped at the traffic light.
• A manager refers to the men in their department by their last names, but the women by their first names.
• A group of faculty members are sitting down for an unusual weekend meeting. The chair thanks everyone for showing up on their day off, and adds "I'm glad your wives let you get away for a few hours."

While microaggressions seem insignificant when taken in isolation, the steady chorus of them that people in marginalized groups experience every day forms an unmistakable patchwork of othering and marginalization. They send a distinct message that you are not "normal"; that you are lesser-than.

External Links

• The Real Katie: "Lighten Up"
• Dr Derald Wing Sue: Microaggressions in Everyday Life
• Shanley Kane: Microaggressions and Management
• The Microaggressions Project