Microaggression can make people feel isolated and alone. Picture: Supplied It may be an unintentional phrase shared with kindness, or it may be a few words that convey bias. Microaggressionis a subtle and often subconscious way in which people speak, behave and receive comments that can offend or hurt someone who may be sensitive about race, gender, physical appearance, handicap or sexual preference.
It may sound benign, but words can overflow with unintentional malice. “In a society where diversity is celebrated and, for that matter, on the increase,” said Dr Jonathan Redelinghuys, “addressing microaggressions has become a necessity.” These subtle, often unintentional acts of discrimination can have significant impacts on individuals and communities. Dr Redelinghuys said microaggressions are brief, everyday exchanges that send offensive and belittling messages to certain individuals because of who or what they are.
“Microaggressions are like paper cuts,” he said. “Individually, they may seem minor, but when experienced repeatedly, they can cause significant harm.” Microaggressions can be manifest in various forms. Comments like “You speak English so well” to a person whose first language might not be English can imply that it was surprising they were fluent.
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Referring to “you people” when talking to a person can be construed as a racial or gender bias comment, no matter when it may be an innocent quip. “The recipient of such comments may be impacted negatively despite the fact that it may not be meant in a denigrating manner,” Dr Redelinghuys said. Nonverbal actions, such as clutching a handbag tightly when passing someone of a certain race on the street, and environmental cues, like a workplace where all leadership positions were held by men or women only, subtly signal gender bias. “I would have never guessed you were gay,” said Dr Redelinghuys, could be understood as a microaggression because it suggests that someone stereotypes sexual orientation with appearance and behaviour.
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