Is this a microaggression?

[Anonymous]

All of the definitions of microaggression that I see online seem to be about personal identity (e.g., gender, race, ethnicity, age). If someone makes a derogatory remark about your professional identity (e.g., education, job description, etc.), is that a microaggression? Or if not, what is the equivalent of a microaggression in this case?

[Anonymous]

Just curious. Are you looking for it? Or are you being offended by something happening at your job?

[Anonymous]

Look them straight in the eye and calmly say, in front of everyone: “that’s rude”. Don’t break eye contact and wait for a few seconds for the cringe to sink in, then look at the other people and continue talking about work. You will have owned the situation.

[Anonymous]

A microaggression is usually veiled or passive aggressive. If someone makes an overt comment about your profession, your education, it is not micro. How you respond matters.

[Anonymous]

Why would you need to google definition of microaggression? If you feel attacked that's all you need to know. Trust yourself.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,

I think it's a microagression.

However, I graduate college in the early 1990s with a BA degree in English. My entire career has been spent in high tech fields. I've managed to earn a doctorate, and I've had a very long career.

I get so tired of seeing job descriptions that require a tech degree. Of course, that eliminates most women, because most women don't earn tech degrees. It's like jobs that require prior military experience eliminates most women, because most women are not prior military.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why would you need to google definition of microaggression? If you feel attacked that's all you need to know. Trust yourself.

“If it FEELS like x then it IS x.”

Seems to hold true for most everything today.

[Anonymous]

I’m leaning towards no - a derogatory remark about your profession is an insult, plain aggression, or maybe passive-aggression if not said directly to your face.

Micro-aggression is more like “oooh you’re so good at that! I didn’t realize people in your field had training for that” said sincerely. Or someone in a higher-ranking position continually calling you by the name of the only other admin (or only other fat person, Asian person, etc). If you’ve ever heard the comparison of microaggressions to “death by a thousand paper cuts”, I think that’s pretty apt. It’s not someone stabbing or poking you, it’s quite accidental and minor in terms of real harm, but it stings a lot, and you feel it when you move.

It’s a little different than straight-up rudeness.

[Anonymous]

Only a loser graduates college in Tech

[Anonymous]

In this day and age when swastikas are apparently acceptable rhetorical tools to complain about Jews, I don’t think microaggressions exist anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP,

I think it's a microagression.

However, I graduate college in the early 1990s with a BA degree in English. My entire career has been spent in high tech fields. I've managed to earn a doctorate, and I've had a very long career.

I get so tired of seeing job descriptions that require a tech degree. Of course, that eliminates most women, because most women don't earn tech degrees. It's like jobs that require prior military experience eliminates most women, because most women are not prior military.

What? Most men don’t have tech degrees or military experience, either.

[Anonymous]

Why look for offense? If you’re not even sure if it’s a MICROagression, just let it go.

Either it wasn’t and you’re making a big deal out of nothing, bringing drama into the office, or it was and they were so inept that it’s unrecognizable as such, unless you help them out by bringing attention to it.

People sometimes just phrase things awkwardly. I know I have, and I bet you have, too. Thankfully, most of my professional career was spent before “microagressions” became something to perpetually guard against. If something actually offensive is said, by all means call it out. However, in ambiguous cases, let’s just extend a little grace to our fellow humans, give them the benefit of the doubt, and hope that when we inevitably fumble, others will be similarly understanding.

[Anonymous]

No.

Didn’t even need to read your post. There is no such thing as a microsggression. If you are not sure whether or not to be offended, then don’t be.

[Anonymous]

We've eliminated most of the overt racism in this country, so all that's left are the micro-aggressions, which is just a term for unconscious racism.

We've also got an entire grievance industry catered to driving wedges between the majority and minority, by calling the majority "oppressors," and the minority "victims." I refuse to participate in this industry and just focus on treating people with respect and giving people the benefit of the doubt, after they cause me some slight offense.

[Anonymous]

Get over yourself OP

There is no such thing as a micro- aggression.