Microagressions and how to overcome them

Microagressions are everyday comments, assumptions actions or insults which, often unconsciously or unintentionally, express a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a minority group. You might also have heard these actions referred to as Everyday Sexism, Everyday Racism or Everyday Homophobia.

Individually these negative messages might not seem discriminatory, but collectively and over time they can create huge barriers to involvement and leave the recipient feeling angry, frustrated and exhausted. This might prevent ethnic minorities, women, the LGBTI community and disabled people from joining and succeeding within a political party or might cause them to leave the party.

Some examples of microagressions include:

• People from minority groups being talked over, given less speaking time or trivialised during meetings
• Minority ethnic people being asked questions about where they are from or repeatedly being confused as another person from the same minority ethnic group
• Speaking to a deaf person’s interpreter rather than the deaf person themselves.

It is important to understand that microaggressions are subtle forms of prejudice and the person initiating them might not always be aware of the impact of their comments or actions. It is easy for those of us who don’t experience these to dismiss mircoagression as not a big deal but this attitude only reinforces subtle discrimination as being acceptable. It is essential to understand what microagressions are, where they exist and how to overcome them.

Some actions you could take include:

• Including a commitment to inclusivity and equality in the documents or welcome pack new members receive
• Rotating roles at you meetings
• Asking your members to share examples of the microaggressions they have experienced in the party and openly discussing how these could be challenged
• Including a session on assumptions and microagressions as part of your political education programme
• Proactively creating opportunities for people from the 4 protected groups to contribute in meetings and on panels.

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