DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION
Microaggressions: What are they and how can you respond? Aftab Erfan
First off, what are microaggressions?
Some reasons why they are harmful.
Often quick or seemingly easy to ignore, microaggressions are brief and/or subtle actions, remarks, or visual cues in our everyday interactions that communicate negative ideas or stereotypes about a group of people – usually a socially marginalized group. While they take many forms, if you’ve encountered one of the comments or actions below, you’ve encountered a microaggression: • “I love your accent! Where are you from?” • “Why am I so blind today?” • “That is so gay.” • Touching someone’s hair without consent. • Repeatedly interrupting or forgetting to include someone. • Crossing the street to avoid someone.
While they might seem inconsequential, microaggressions are cumulative to the people on the receiving end. A n d c u m u l at i ve ly, t h e ef fe c t of microaggressions can be overwhelming and damaging.
Why they are hard to address. Microaggressions are by nature small and can be easily explained away. They aren’t perpetrated by one particular population or group – they are perpetrated by many different people, and many people simply aren’t aware that they are inflicting a microaggression. In addition, microaggressions aren’t always delivered in words – they can be a gesture, facial expression, or other subtle forms of body language.
Think about this in physical terms, for example, receiving a minor abrasion like a paper cut. If you receive one, you will likely be a bit uncomfortable, but it will seem minor and you will probably heal and move on. But if you receive multiple paper cuts per day for weeks or even years, it could seriously damage your health. Other reasons why microaggressions are harmful? They are a constant reminder that someone doesn’t belong or isn’t worthy, and they also subtly normalize prejudice and reinforce it. They do real psychological damage to people who regularly experience them.
“I love your accent! Where” are you from?
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The Washington CPA Spring 2021
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“She should smile more.”
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“Why am blind tod I so ay?” www.wscpa.org
