The 3 Types of Microaggressions

Microaggression may have “micro” in its name, but that doesn’t mean these assaults are small. Two women I admire so much for their anti-racism work explain it like this:

“There’s nothing micro about micro aggressions” —Britt Hawthorne, anti-racist educator

“Microaggression, macro effect.” —Alex Scott, creator of Ditto Kids Magazine

According to researchers at the Columbia University Teachers College, there are three different types of microaggressions. Keep reading for an explanation and specific example of each.

Note: While these examples focus on racial microaggressions, anyone who holds a marginalized identity has probably experienced microaggressions. You can learn more about how microaggressions affect different groups by listening to our Ask Jasmine mini-podcast “Are there other types of microaggressions besides racial microaggressions?” on YouTube.

1. Microassault

Microassaults are racist behavior that includes “name-calling, avoidant behavior, or purposeful discriminatory actions.”

Examples: Calling someone a derogatory name, “purposefully serving a white person before a POC,” displaying violent symbols like a confederate flag.

2. Microinsult

Microinsults are “communications that convey rudeness and insensitivity and demean a person’s racial heritage or identity.”

Example: Implying that a POC was an “affirmative action hire.”

3. Microinvalidation

Microinvalidations are essentially gaslighting, when you question a POC about their experience.

Example: Saying things like “I don’t see color” when someone tells you about something racist that happened to them or something racist that you did.

Wondering what to do when you encounter a microaggression? Check out our blog post, “What Should I Do When I Hear and See Microaggressions?” to learn more, and be sure to listen to Season 4, Episode 1 of the First Name Basis Podcast: “(Not So Micro) Aggressions.”