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Helpful Resources: Understanding Microaggressions and Unintended Slights

Posted Jun 21, 2018 11:15 AM
A “microaggression” is a verbal or nonverbal cue (whether intentional or unintentional) that communicates hostility or bias toward a targeted group of people. These unintended slights may seem harmless on the surface, but they perpetuate the feeling of being devalued and viewed as “the other.”

Visit these resources, which will open your eyes to the importance of addressing microaggressions openly, in order to build an inclusive workplace culture:

  • For an introduction, see the American Psychiatric Association’s primer on microaggressions and its effects on mental health.
  • Watch this short video that concisely explains what microaggressions are and how they negatively affect people of color and other marginalized groups.
  • Learn how microaggressions and “bystanderism” in the workplace lead to employee turnover.
  • See Cultures Connecting’s list of anti-bias resources for educators and nonprofits. Dr. Caprice D. Hollins, who is presenting our staff development workshop on microaggressions on July 31, is their co-founder.