Beneath the Surface: Microaggressions

A compliment much like any other statement can come in various shapes and forms. Most are obvious while others may take a little more work to recognize. The same can go for insults.

Although an overwhelming amount of insults may be abrasive and harsh through and through, others can wear the mask of a compliment but none of its necessary essence. For instance, take “You’re smart for a black girl”. This is one “compliment” that I’ve been forced to endure through for an overwhelming portion of my life. On its surface, the statement may seem to hold good intentions but a closer look beneath the surface will reveal something far less benevolent.

Underneath the surface of comments like “You’re smart for a black girl”, “You’re too pretty to be a lesbian”, “You don’t act gay”, or “You don’t look Asian/Hispanic/Black”, is ignorance and hate. By definition these comments dictate that 1.) An entire group is holistically the same, 2.) That by deviating from this already ignorant norm, the person in question has surprised you, and 3.) By surprising you and deviating away from this norm they cannot in your mind be a part of said group any longer. If the problem with these comments is not already apparent, I’ll spell it out. They’re ignorant and/or racist, homophobic, and sexist. They exhibit an utter disregard for the human condition, which underlines the fact that each individual identity is unique. By telling someone that they are good for whatever group you perceive them to be a part of you are only further marginalizing said group and contributing to a system of oppression that has harmed millions of people.

The psychological term for comments of this nature is “microaggression”. However, despite the misleading name comments such as these have a lasting impact on an individual. They may seem meaningless and harmless on the surface but they can still be psychologically, emotionally, and socially damaging. So think before you speak because to paraphrase a quote that I quite like, you don’t have to have bad intentions to be sexist, racist, or homophobic; you just have to remain ignorant.

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More Than Just Race

More on Microagressions

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