For those who wish to dive deeper...
"We navigate all of these things in our lives," Nadal says. "For many of us on a daily, hourly basis. And for some of us where we might not even recognize that we are navigating them or even perpetrating them." To be clear, the "micro" in microaggression doesn't mean that these acts can't have big, life-changing impacts. They can, which is all the more reason to address them when you see them. If you can, that is."
"Discussing microaggressions isn’t intended to instill fear or prevent colleagues from talking freely, but it is important for everyone in the workplace to become more aware of what they are and why they hurt."
Five Myths:
- As long as I didn’t intend any harm, it’s not a microaggression.
- If I didn’t do or say anything, I couldn’t have perpetuated a microaggression.
- Microaggressions aren’t really a big deal.
- If s/he didn’t say anything to me, they must not have been offended.
- A “compliment” can’t be a microaggression.