Microaggressions

This week in my diversity class we are learning about microaggressions. There are three types of microagressions which are microinsults, micrassaults and microinvalidations. For this post we were asked to consider a microagression that we may have noticed this week. After learning about microaggressions, I began to notice them everywhere.

A microaggression that I noticed this week was directed towards my own daughter. In meeting new people one person stated that my daughter was incredibly articulate for one so young.  While this is on the lighter end of the spectrum, this is what could be described as a microinsult. I see a microinsult as a backhanded compliment.

After reading about these types of aggressions, I see how easy it can be to insult someone and cross the line into inappropriateness. Having an understanding of this subject would be very beneficial for any educator in that we must be mindful of how we interact with our students and their parents. Going forward, I will be far more cognizant of my speech; admittedly I may have been guilty of such aggressions in the past. I will definitely be paying more attention to what I say in mixed company.