Microaggressions

Abstract

The conceptualisation of microaggressions has served to create an awareness of the ways in which institutional racism and coloniality continue to surface in daily life in Western institutions of higher education. In light of the current microaggression literature, microaggressions have been shown to have long-lasting consequences for the well-being and a sense of belonging of marginalised groups. As such, it is imperative that they are addressed as an important part of current diversity and inclusion work in higher education. Although many attempts have been made to increase awareness of microaggressions and the negative impact they have on staff and students, much work remains to be done in terms of how to best address the problem. Two examples of microaggressions are provided for discussion, one addressing a teaching scenario and the other an interaction between two members of a research group.