Microaggressions

The word "microaggression," like the behaviors it describes, is probably going to be with us for some time, so it's worth understanding what it means.

Microaggressions are the everyday slights, indignities, insults, put-downs, and invalidations that people of color, women, LGBT population or those who are marginalized, experience in their day-to-day interactions, normally from well-intentioned individuals who are unaware that they are engaging in an offensive or demeaning form of behavior. They can be intentional and unintentional and are based on biases (either conscious and unconscious) associated with our race, religion or belief, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender and disability.

There are three forms of microaggressions: nonverbal, verbal, or environmental.

A nonverbal form of microaggression is when you enter the subway and the only seats free are the ones next to black passengers. It’s when a white woman clutches her bag while passing by a black person. This is non-verbal communication, when people are perceived as dangerous, simply because of their skin color.

A verbal microaggression is when an Asian-American person is complimented for speaking perfect English, but it's actually his first language, or when a black student is complimented by his teacher for being articulate. These are actually intended as compliments – note that microaggressions can come from well-intended people that are simply unaware of their implicit bias – but they’re rather demeaning for the receiver making them feel uncomfortable or insulted.

An environmental microaggression is when there is a lack of representation and diversity. Imagine a Brazilian woman trying to speak in an important meeting and being completely silenced by the amount of men in the room.

What is the difference between microaggressions and other rude or insensitive comments?

Microaggressions are more than just insults, insensitive comments, or generalized jerky behavior. They're something very specific: the kinds of remarks, questions, or actions that are painful because they have to do with a person's belonging to a group that's discriminated against or subject to stereotypes. And a key part of what makes them so disconcerting is that they happen casually, frequently, and often without any harm intended, in everyday life. It’s like when a lesbian is told “You don’t look like you’re gay!”

The term microaggression was first coined by Harvard University Professor Chester M. Pierce, back in the 70’s to describe the constant insults he witnessed against black people.

Microaggressions are a little different from overtly racist, sexist, or homophobic acts or comments because they typically don't have any negative intent or hostility behind them. People who do it are ordinary folks who think of themselves as good, moral, decent individuals, and aren’t even conscious of their biases, therefore affecting a work or school environment, making it more hostile and less validating and perpetuating stereotypes.

None of this is hard to imagine if you simply consider how it would impact your life if you were subject to a constant stream of insults and were always bracing for or recovering from an offense. It's not just about being upset, though: some researchers have found that microaggressions can even cause physical health problems.

In this way, microaggressions are closely tied to implicit biases, which are the attitudes, stereotypes, and assumptions that we're not even aware of, that can creep into our minds and affect our actions.

A person with implicit bias against black people might have trouble connecting "black" with positive terms. It's fair to guess that that same person might be someone who gets a little nervous — and shows it — when she first sees a black man in the elevator she's about to enter. So, more than expressions of conscious prejudice or intentional bigoted statements, you can think of microaggressions as implicit biases come to life in our everyday interactions.

What do I do if I want to avoid subjecting people to microaggressions?

It's not very hard to put some thought into the biases you might hold, become curious about the way your words and actions are perceived by others, listen when people explain why certain remarks offend them, and make it a habit to stop and think before you speak, especially when you’re addressing someone’s identity!

Here are 5 tips of what individuals can do to avoid microaggressions:

- Be constantly vigilant of your own biases and fears.

- Seek out interaction with people who differ from you (in terms of race, culture, ethnicity, and other qualities).

- Don't be defensive. If you have nothing to fear there’s no need to be defensive.

- Be open to discussing your attitudes and biases (and how they might have hurt others).

- Be an ally, by standing personally against all forms of bias and discrimination.

Bonus tip: Get informed, read articles and academic research or even pay attention on social media, of everything that is considered microaggressions. Once you hear about what they are and how they affect people, chances are, you will be more aware of them, and much less likely to repeat them.