Talk:Microaggression

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This article was the subject of an educational assignment in Spring 2015. Further details were available on the "Education Program:University of Ontario Institute of Technology/Critical Race Theory (Winter 2015)" page, which is now unavailable on the wiki.

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 19 January 2022 and 4 May 2022. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): LilliBaldner, Caelenmw (article contribs). Peer reviewers: Oskeans, CKRRKQ.

The use of the word "harm"

The article in its present form uses the word "harm" repeatedly. I believe that in some of the contexts within this article, the word "harm" conveys more strength and suggests more damage than is warranted. I have changed some of these to "offended", but editor NightHeron prefers the word "harm". NightHeron pointed to WP:BRD as rationale. Within that, I thought that "What BRD is not" supported my view. So, I look to the community of editors. Many have complained that Wikipedia editors are becoming more hostile. I want to resist that, so I defer to the broader community on this point. Amicably, Pete unseth (talk) 18:28, 31 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

"Offended" is certainly not the word to use here. What do the RS say? EvergreenFir (talk) 18:36, 31 January 2023 (UTC)[reply]

I completely agree that the word offended doesn't seem to fit, it seems to 'make light' of the situation or topic comparatively. Words like harm, hurt, trauma, or even wounding give a sense of urgency towards the topic. ~~~~ Doyediran22 (talk) 01:05, 31 March 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Othering and exclusion is not mentioned as much as it should

The way the article reads now, it's almost as if it's written by someone in a dominant group, somewhat bemused by the existence of these silly things called microagression for which the article doesn't even agree exists because some kind of scientific study is needed.

Whe I first heard the word microagressions it made sense to me instinctively as a member of an "other" group.

It's not so much that i feel wounded, or can't handle it, it's the death by a million cuts. It's the constant messaging that you are OTHER and not ONE OF US. That is how the words and slights end up taking a psychological toll on the person.

I would love it if the article could be cleaned up a bit to seem less judgemental of those experiencing microagressions as overly sensitive or that by calling these out or even acknowledging their existence, we are somehow doing more harm because we are not allowing these people to become "tough"

I am very tough. I am not into playing the victim. But these things are real, they do have an effect. Do some people maybe exaggerate how harmful a word or comment may be? Perhaps. I'm sure it happens. But this is not a fringe belief it's something people experience. Not just "snowflakes" but people who are not easily offended but still have to carry the toll of constantly being "othered" or reminded that they belong to an outgroup.

The article could take this more seriously, and be less, academic on safari, recording the odd behavior of these overly sensitive and irrational aliens. 2603:8000:5000:9B8B:83BD:414:2880:447C (talk) 12:57, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I sense the pain of the last editor. Living around people who do not embrace you as you hope to be embraced is hard. However, Wikipedia is an encyclopedia, not a discussion group. I suggest the editor find a source that documents such feelings and cite it. I hope my edit is seen as friendly. Pete unseth (talk) 16:07, 7 December 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Adding see also pages

There's a lot of great topics in this field. I added "political psychology" and "truthiness", but if "Other (philosophy)" article isn't there, I'd add that too.

Someone reverted my addition; the connection is fairly clear right? MAgg. is a phenomenon relevant to political psychology, as MAs can reflect & reinforce power dynamics and societal biases that are central to political discourse and outcomes. Microaggressions are part of political psychology research.

Likewise, assessments of MAs both alleged and real are the subjective experience of humans; hence the truthiness; not everyone experiences it the same way, and it's not an objective phenomena, it's a socially-mediated one. AnExtraEditor (talk) 23:33, 2 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

This view of what topics should be linked to this article is very broad and expansive. I agree with the editor that had deleted some links to other articles, some of these are not linked closely enough to warrant a link. This is not to be taken as an insult or rebuke, but only a gentle disagreement. Let's interact kindly. Pete unseth (talk) 00:45, 3 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I apologize if my edit came off as offended. Non verbal and tonal communcation is lost on the internet.

I guess my idea of see also is more broad; I personally like being able to go down the wiki rabbit hole thru see also's.

If I may ask, what would be sufficient relatedness in your guys defintion? AnExtraEditor (talk) 01:58, 3 April 2025 (UTC)[reply]