Microaggressions

GRADE LEVEL: High School

Overview

“Microaggressions,” a term coined in the 1970s, are common and pervasive in our everyday lives and contribute to a culture of stereotypes, bias and exclusion.  As we go about our lives, we witness and experience these “brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities—whether intentional or unintentional—which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights and insults to people from marginalized groups.” Microaggressions are heard regularly in school, at work, in our communities and even in interactions among friends and family. Recognizing and addressing them can contribute to a culture of respect and inclusion.

In this activity, students will:

• Examine what microaggressions are and how they impact people.
• Reflect on microaggressions that they and their peers have experienced or observed and consider strategies to counteract them.