Topic 1 Verbal and Non-verbal Micro-aggressions
The mechanism by which is micro-aggression delivered may go in several ways: interactional (verbal, nonverbal), behavioural or in environmental form.
Verbal and non-verbal micro-aggressions are purposeful and deliberate communications that are meant to cause long-term debilitating and depressing effects in the victim.
Example of verbal micro-aggression is saying: “You are so smart for a girl.”
On the other hand, non-verbal micro-aggression could be rolling eyes only when woman co-worker speaks during meeting.
Categories, in which verbal and non-verbal micro-aggressions are manifested, are:
- facial expressions;
- body language;
- avoidance;
- ignorance;
- distancing;
- pathologizing minority culture or appearance;
- assumptions about intelligence, competence, status;
- colour blindness;
- dangerousness;
- denial of racism;
- assumptions of abnormality (LGBT);
- gender roles prejudicing or stereotyping;
- sexual objectification;
- assumptions of criminal status;
- use of sexist language;
- behaviour as to second-class citizens;
- myth of meritocracy (achieving upward social status through one’s own merits regardless of one’s social position).
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