Diversity and Inclusion
The way our bias leaks out is through everyday microaggressions: seemingly minor slights, exclusions, messages, looks, jokes or quips to someone from a marginalized group that highlights their difference.
They’re so common that you may not even realize you’re guilty of them. But these small acts of prejudice can have an outsized impact on others.
Note that there are many terms for this concept, including micromessages and micro-inequity.
We prefer to use the term microaggressions as we feel it captures the spirit of these slights: generally committed by a well-meaning person unaware their message is gauche, inappropriate and harmful.
“I’d never heard of twerking until Miley Cyrus popularised it, but apparently being a black woman meant it was okay for my colleagues to ask me for a demonstration in the staff room.”
“One of the most insidious comments I get when white colleagues learn I’m a Muslim is “Yeah, but you’re one of the good ones, mate!” which is a punch to the gut disguised as a ‘compliment’, mate.”
“I have a visible disability and I know every person that simpers ‘Wow, I could never deal with that’ also believes my disability means inability and will condescend me no matter how many times I prove myself.”
Here are some humorous examples of what microaggressions could look like towards your white co-workers:
What if we treated white co-workers the way we treat minority co-workers? pic.twitter.com/hYlkrkEe7i
— ATTN: (@attn) November 3, 2017
If you’re from a marginalized group, microaggressions are a constant in your world.
They may sound trivial, but the cumulative effect of countless tiny messages that you don’t belong leads to low self-esteem and feelings of alienation – and sometimes triggers the imposter syndrome (when people doubt their accomplishments).
In fact, research from Derald Wing Sue has shown that microaggressions can be more harmful than overt prejudice or hatred.
Not to mention microbias also creates an environment of hostility when it goes unchecked.
In short, microaggressions hold people back from fulfilling their potential. That’s a problem for you and the business – so that’s why it’s your responsibility to spot it and stop it.
Do you know how today’s young children are taught about microaggressions in the classroom? The not-so-complex thesis of their sessions is that the small moments add up.
As adults, though, it’s hard to accept this “death by a thousand paper-cuts” explanation unless we have the lived experience ourselves.
The reasons recipients of microaggressions don’t just point each one out are complex:
Overall, if a victim stands up to a microexpression, it is made to seem as though they are hypersensitive, as though they are the aggressor or as though the whole thing is a non-issue.
🚨 Alternate point of view: “Underrepresented groups just have a chip on their shoulder and are too sensitive in their reactions. They need to give people a break.”
Comedian and author David Sedaris caused a stir when he spoke out about microaggressions in a short sketch. His take was that “honest mistakes” shouldn’t be confused with “true” microaggressions and people should learn to be less sensitive.
❌ But he was wrong.
New research from Goldsmiths University has proved that ethnic minorities are not more sensitive to microexpressions. Majorities experience the exact same decrease in happiness if they are subjected to a microexpression equivalent.
What’s more, who are you to determine what affects someone else?
It’s been hotly debated in and outside of academia. Are microaggressions truly damaging? How and how big are the effects?
You can see how microaggressions silently reinforce ideas about superiority, in-groups, and out-groups and reproduce patterns of privilege.
. . .
Microaggressions are seemingly harmless but impactful everyday slights and exclusions that negatively highlights an individual’s Otherness. Research shows that the cumulative effects of microaggressions are worse than blatant prejudice.
In practice, microaggressions seem tiny but can have outsized, lasting ramifications. This mismatch between small actions and big knock-on effects means addressing a microaggression is often a tough conversation for all participants.
What are microaggressions?
Have you ever seen or felt the large-scale damaging effects of small-scale microaggression? Have anything else to add? We’re always keen to hear your feedback! Drop your comments, suggestions, or whatever else you’d like to talk about here.
Fiona Young (she/her)
Having previously led Learning and Development for 3,000 people at Europe’s leading venture builder, Blenheim Chalcot, Fiona knows a thing or two about how to build high performance culture. As Content Director at Hive Learning, Fiona pioneered the organisation's leading guided content programmes which are designed to turn learning into action. Most recently, Fiona led the inception, development and delivery of Inclusion Works by Hive Learning - the world’s first diversity and inclusion programme focused on turning unconscious bias into conscious action - created from over 1,000 leading sources.
