Micro-aggression, also known as, micro inequities, was coined in 1970 by psychiatrist Chester Pierce of Harvard University.
In itself, what is micro-aggression? According to the dictionary, micro-aggression is defined as a comment or action that subtly reveals bias or bias towards a group, a minority or a marginalized society.
It is an action, an incident, an instance of indirect, subtle or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group, a racial or ethnic minority.
Micro-aggression is found, instilled in all of us, those are the facts. And from an early age. It is a kind of education, not regulated, that promotes social development, social circulation and above all, it is a kind of social promotion.
Micro-aggression can often be a compliment. Those are the facts.
"Hey güero!" referring to the skin tone of an individual or an educated person.
Are you transgender? You don't look like it.”. This implies that being transgender, infers that all transgender people look the same and that in a way, they are visibly recognizable.
"I am not racist! I have friends of color”.
"Where were you born?". Assuming that the individual was not born in the country, therefore he is not a national.
"Your name is very difficult to pronounce, I better call you .... (insert nickname)".
"You don't speak Spanish?". Assuming that an individual is of Latino or Hispanic origin and therefore, must, speak Spanish. As if we weren't able to learn to speak more than one language. Our indigenous brothers and sisters and above all, Africans, learned French, Spanish, Dutch, English, Portuguese, etc.,.
The list is endless. Even focusing on the individual who executed the micro-aggression could be considered an instance of micro-aggression, a micro-assault on the individual.
Even so, when we witness a micro-aggression, it is our duty to recognize and act. Micro-aggression is capable of creating a hostile, non-inclusive environment when you are a minority. As it happened to the actress, from the film, Roma, Yalitza Aparicio, or I'll go as far as, with the Bill Gates foundation, who wanted to develop a vaccine against Sars-Cov-2 in Africa, and the countries of Africa replied, NO thanks! We don't want to be your guinea pig.
Responding to micro-aggression can be challenging. Without a doubt, it is a matter of education. Essentially, education allows people to understand themselves, without education, it is complicated and expensive to navigate some contemporary problems in society.
Let's remember the phrase, "never judge a book by its cover" and let's watch what we say.