Microaggressions

Microaggressions are subtle yet harmful messages conveyed through comments or actions, often directed at marginalized groups in society, including people of colour, women, 2SLGBTIA+ individuals, those with disabilities, and religious minorities. These acts may invalidate the group identity or the individual's lived experience, humiliate on personal or group levels, imply a lack of belonging, intimidate, or lower one's status and treatment. While they may appear as compliments or jokes, microaggressions contain hidden insults, offensive statements, or insensitive questions. Though not always intentional, they cause harm and offence, with their impact accumulating over time. Microaggressive behaviour can manifest verbally, non-verbally, or within the environment, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and biases (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 2023).

Racial microaggressions are frequent, everyday occurrences involving verbal, behavioural, or environmental actions that convey derogatory, hostile, or negative racial slights and insults toward people of colour, whether these actions are intentional or unintentional. Those who commit microaggressions often do so without realizing they are engaging in such behaviours when interacting with racial or ethnic minorities. Race-related microaggressions are a form of racism. Microaggressions seem to appear in three forms: microassault, microinsult, and microinvalidation (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 2023).

Here are a few examples of race related microaggressions:

Gender related microaggressions are a form of discrimination against gender minority identity groups. When it comes to gender-related microaggressions, they can contribute to the development of imposter syndrome, a pervasive feeling of inadequacy and constant pressure to validate one's qualifications and knowledge, even when holding a position based solely on merit. Such microaggressions can also lead to the silencing of these groups, causing self-doubt and questioning of their abilities, ultimately eroding their self-worth. These cumulative effects can have a detrimental impact on mental health (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 2023).

Here are a few examples of gender related microaggressions:

Microaggressions related to disabilities are a display of discrimination and ableism, which is the systemic bias and social prejudice directed at individuals with disabilities or those perceived to have them. Ableism can manifest in various ways, encompassing notions, assumptions, stereotypes, attitudes, practices, physical environmental obstacles, and even broader forms of oppression. Importantly, ableism frequently occurs unintentionally, with many individuals unaware of the repercussions of their words or behaviors. This form of bias undermines and limits the capabilities and potential of people with developmental, emotional, physical, or psychiatric disabilities (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 2023).

Here are a few examples of disability related microaggressions:

Common ageist themes include reducing older people to negative stereotypes, pitting younger and older generations against each other, and portraying later life as a time of frailty and decline (Royal Pharmaceutical Society, 2023).

Here are a few examples of age related microaggressions: