microaggression

[ mahy-kroh-uh-gresh-uhn ]

/ ˌmaɪ kroʊ əˈgrɛʃ ən /

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noun

a subtle but offensive comment or action directed at a member of a marginalized group, especially a racial minority, that is often unintentionally offensive or unconsciously reinforces a stereotype: microaggressions such as "I don't see you as Black."

the act of discriminating against a marginalized group by means of such comments or actions: The diversity committee discussed the issue of microaggression toward women on campus.

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Origin of microaggression

First recorded in 1970; coined by psychiatrist Chester M. Pierce (1927–2016); micro- + aggression

Words nearby microaggression

micro, microabscess, microadenoma, microaerophil, microaerophile, microaggression, microammeter, microampere, microanalysis, microanastomosis, microanatomy

How to use microaggression in a sentence

It’s the story of how one man battles racism and microaggression to get to the top of a cult-like company.
10 of the best new books coming out in January 2021|Rachel King|January 1, 2021|Fortune
What’s sweet about this, if a movie whose main character once punched her mother in the face can be called sweet, is that Housebound always frames both Kylie and her mother as vulnerable to one another’s unwitting slights and microaggressions.
One Good Thing: Housebound is the perfect horror comedy for the perpetually quarantined|Aja Romano|December 31, 2020|Vox
DeLeon’s report contains much more data, including detailed looks at the types of microaggressions more commonly experienced by different groups.
SEOs say bias, discrimination are bigger problem within the industry than their companies [Report]|Ginny Marvin|October 8, 2020|Search Engine Land
Those who commit microaggressions should be told what’s wrong with their actions.
A new social-media platform wants to enforce “kindness.” Can that ever work?|Tanya Basu|October 7, 2020|MIT Technology Review

At Mediacom, the agency plans to work with an independent education organization to get its staff to confront their own microaggressions in the workplace.
‘It’s all been plan, plan, plan mode:’ Agencies have big ideas for greater diversity, but more action is needed|Seb Joseph|September 15, 2020|Digiday