11 2.3: Microagressions

 “I had peers that used derogatory terms to describe music that someone was playing. There were also a lot of microaggressions like ‘can I touch your hair,’ ‘where are you from,’ and the girls in my class used to call the only Black instructor ‘intimidating’ for no reason while admitting that they don’t know why they felt that way. No one addressed the situation, and this made it extremely uncomfortable. As for myself, at the time I was taken quite aback by these situations so I did not feel like it was safe for me to question them.”- Canadian Dietetic Master’s Student

Key Concepts

Microaggressions, is a term coined by Dr. Chester M. Peirce, a Black psychiatrist and Harvard professor in the 1970s (Johnson & Johnson, 2019). They take different forms, often categorized into three types: microinsults, microassaults, and microinvalidations:

• Microinsults involve subtle comments or behaviours that demean a person’s racial heritage or identity. For example, assuming that a Black individual is not as competent or qualified as their non-Black peers, or making backhanded compliments such as, “You’re so articulate for someone like you.” These statements diminish the dignity of the individual and reinforce stereotypes, even if the speaker is unaware of their harmful impact (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).
• Microassaults are explicit and intentional acts of discrimination against a person’s identity. They are often overt but can sometimes be disguised as jokes,  casual comments or offhand remarks. An example might include deliberately excluding someone from an opportunity based on their race or using derogatory racial terms. While microassaults can sometimes be defended as jokes or harmless comments by the perpetrator, their effect on the recipient is harmful and dehumanizing (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).
• Microinvalidations are comments or actions that dismiss or negate the lived experiences of Black individuals. For instance, telling someone that racism is no longer a significant issue in today’s society or that they are overreacting when describing a racist encounter is a form of microinvalidation. This can lead to individuals feeling as though their experiences of discrimination are being ignored or minimized, further contributing to a sense of isolation (Cleveland Clinic, 2021).