Topic 3 Aspect II – Who is Affected by Micro-aggression?

Any group or individual can potentially be micro aggressive or harmed by micro aggression. Most people are probably both in different situations. What sets micro aggression apart from a ‘regular’ insult, is that micro aggression is always related to someone’s membership of a certain group. Examples can be (but are not limited to):

• Gender
• Race
• Skin color
• Body image
• Language
• Religion or ideology
• Nationality
• Ethnic origin
• Physicsal or mental disability
• Age
• Sexual orientation

Each of these groups encounter their own kinds of micro aggression, depending on the prejudices and biases that exist about these groups. In our catalogue we provide examples of different forms of micro aggression for each of these groups.

People always belong to different groups at the same time. For example, you can identify as a women, have homosexuality as your sexual orientation and be a person of color. For each of these groups there are certain prejudices and biases that can lead to micro aggression. This cross-over of different groups and identities is what we call internationality.

Although any group can potentially be harmed by micro aggression, often the most painful and harmful ones are likely to occur between those who hold power and those who are most disempowered. For example, in our western society, a man being micro aggressive towards a woman about gender roles, or a white person being micro aggressive towards a person of color about skin color or race.