Inclusive Pedagogy: Microaggressions

Spring 2019
Addressing Microaggressions: What is known, and what do we still need to know?  

As part of our ongoing Inclusive Pedagogy programming, we invite you to join us for a semester-long discussion of various articles about microaggressions, and the state of the field – including foundational readings, recent critiques of the microaggressions literature, and action pieces. In these articles, authors discuss the issue of microaggressions which are generally defined as “the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership” (Sue et al., 2007). Microaggressions can affect any marginalized group including people of color, women, lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgendered people (LGBTQs), those with disabilities, religious minorities, non-native individuals, and so on. An example of a microaggression Asian Americans, born and raised in the United States may experience, is being complimented for speaking “good English,” where the hidden message is that these individuals are not “true Americans,” but rather are perpetual foreigners in their own country. In these discussion sessions, we aim to get a better understanding of the origins and impact of microaggressions and to develop strategies to work against such marginalizations in our own classrooms.

We will meet from 1:30-3:00pm on the following days:

• Monday, January 28, 2019 Week 1: Overview on Microaggressions
• Monday, February 25, 2019 Week 2: What do we still need to know? Critiques of the field
• Monday, March 25, 2019 Week 3: Critical Responses
• Monday, April 29, 2019 Week 4: Action Responses to Microaggressions/Microresistance