What are Microaggressions?

A microaggression is an indirect, sometimes subtle put-down toward a person from a marginalized community, often wrapped up in what pretends to be a compliment.

Types of Microagressions

A microinsult is an action or statement that is unintentionally offensive or discriminatory. TellingInforming an interviewee of a different nationality that they are very articulate, or responding telling a co-worker who has revealed their sexuality that they don’t “seem gay”,” is a microinsult. Though these comments might be meant as compliments, they are offensive because they imply that members of these groups all sound or act the same, and that the receiver of the comment is an outlier — — generalizations are rarely accepted as flattering.

Microassaults, on the other hand, occurs when one behaves in a discriminatory manner intentionally, but inadvertently offends someone. For example, purposely mispronouncing an ethnic name is a microassault. While the individual might not have been intending to be offensive, purposely disregarding the proper pronunciation of one’s name is disrespectful, and; this action gives off the impression that the person is not important enough to properly pronounce their name.

Microinvalidations differ from the aforementioned forms of microaggressions because they invalidate the experiences of a particular group of people. A white co-worker telling a Black co-worker that racism no longer exists is a common type of microinvalidation. because due to the fact that the white co-worker has never experienced life as a Black person, their experience with racism is completely different and likely riddled with privilege. In turn, they are not in any position to draw any conclusions about how their Black co-worker experiences discrimination.

Microaggressions to Avoid

You’re so Articulate

This remark suggests that they assumed the person in question would be less articulate — and are surprised to find out they aren’t

‘You’re transgender? Wow, you don’t look like it at all

This implies that being transgender isn’t desirable, and doesn't come off as a compliment.

‘Where are you actually from?’

Asking someone about their ethnic heritage can get tiresome for most people of color.

Your name is hard to pronounce

The remark suggests that the person in question does not fit in culturally or linguistically and that their identity is not worth taking time to learn about.

Is that your real hair?

Receiving comments about one’s natural hair is a frequent struggle for African-American women in particular. It’s best to avoid asking this question- regardless of your intention

Why do you wear that?

If you want to learn more about that religion, you shouldn’t ask people while they’re just trying to do their job.

Complimenting a Person of Color on their ability to speak English when English is their first language