‘Death by a thousand cuts’: Real-life examples of microaggressions

File photo courtesy: Pixabay
Microaggressions — subtle but offensive comments or actions directed at a minority group that unconsciously reinforce stereotypes or bias — can be hard to quantify because they’re often delivered casually and without the intention to offend. Their effect is cumulative. For that reason, they’re often described as “death by a thousand cuts.”
“All these seemingly small events accumulate over time and can leave you just as bloody as if someone had stabbed you,” NiCole Buchanan, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychology who leads workshops on microaggressions at Michigan State University and beyond, told the APA in 2017.
Studies have shown that most people carry some degree of unconscious bias. The key to creating diverse spaces is to acknowledge those biases, reflect upon them, and move past them.
Microaggressions can target any minority group. Here are a few examples.
Race/ethnicity
Gender
Sexuality/sexual orientation
Mental illness
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As a recipient
As a witness
As a microaggressor
Source: APA
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