Microaggressions are something we experience and aren’t necessarily aware of. We go about our lives and we notice things people say, or what they do, but don’t think twice about who is being affected by those actions.
For those of you who are unaware, microagressions are defined as brief everyday exchanges that are offensive or insulting messages to an individual or group that go unnoticed. Although some people are starting to categorize other characteristics under the umbrella of microagressions, the definition stems from offensive messages to different races and people of color.
Most people wouldn’t even be aware if they would have said a microaggression.
An example of a microagression is a stranger asking if a child is yours, because it’s unclear why you have a black baby and you’re white mother. People may still be surprised to see an interracial couple or marriage.
Makenzie Karl, sophomore, said, “People say things that are second nature to them without knowing and understanding the true implications.”
Microagressions are about the hidden actions and metacommunication that we don’t think about. For instance, it’s assuming your friend who is black only got a job because of Affirmative Action instead of working hard and earning the position.
Sophomore, John Pack, described how, as an African American, people assume certain things just because he is a person of color. Even at Capital University or other colleges, if people see a student of color, Pack said there is usually an immediate assumption that they are an athlete, as if there were no other reason or way for that student to be in college.
One conversation might not hurt someone, but when someone is reminded several times in their life, they may begin to believe the once harmless phrases as truths that represent them.
Many people consider racism or systematic prejudices to be alive and thriving today, and it lives on through parts of casual conversation like microagressions that could snowball into action that harm.
In addition, sophomore, Alex Anderson, said, “I would rather listen and try to understand… microagressions need to be pointed out, held accountable, and categorized appropriately.”
When Anderson’s mother was first going to college she was notified that she was assigned an African-American roommate, and at the time, she had the ability to decline that roommate because of her race.
At that time, that policy and behavior was acceptable, just as everyday prejudicial phrases are acceptable to some people now.
The rhetoric that has been used in the presidential primaries has frightened many people, while empowering others. With constant debate over immigration, religious bans, and #Blacklivesmatter, groups of people are insulted and degraded through words and potential action.
Although, being culturally sensitive may seem beneficial to many readers, there is a message coming from older generations that college students today are too sensitive, often using the phrase “words hurt”.
To combat that message, Anderson, said, “Our generation is exposed to so much more opinion [because of the internet and social media].”
Lois Forman-Wernet, professor of communication, said that microagressions are harvested in social media. Due to the amount of people and groups, it is easy for herds of people to act out.
Through her studies of culture communication, Forman-Wernet said, “It’s natural to stereotype and to have ‘in groups’ and ‘out groups’ such as Capital University vs. Otterbein University… but we need to be aware of [the agressions] and treat people like individuals.”
Due to relationships and size of Capital, Forman-Wernet said that Capital does a good job of allowing strong interpersonal relationships which can help diminish microagressions that make our way into everyday conversation.
