Microaggressions as a form of interpersonal violence: the concept and the debate
Gian Maria Galeazzi
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Metaboliche e Neuroscienze, Università di Modena e Reggio Emilia
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The concept of microaggressions, introduced by psychiatrist Chester Pierce in 1970 and further developed by psychologist Derald Wing Sue, refers to verbal communications, behaviors, or attitudes, often unintentional, that express hostility, devaluation, or prejudice toward individuals belonging to minority and/or oppressed groups. These interactions, seemingly minor or insignificant, can have a significant cumulative psychological impact, contributing to the maintenance of subtle but persistent discriminatory dynamics.
The seminar aims to explore the definition, recognition, and possible defensive responses to microaggressions in the workplace, with particular reference to gender microaggressions. The categories proposed by Sue—microinsults, microinvalidations, and microassaults—will be illustrated and related to the workplace context. The main criticisms of the concept will also be discussed: from the vagueness of the definition to the risk of promoting an overly censorious climate, to the empirical difficulty of distinguishing microaggressions from simple miscommunications.
Despite such criticism, the concept of microaggression has proven to be a useful tool for bringing to light often overlooked interpersonal and institutional dynamics, promoting greater awareness of the subtle but systemic forms in which gender-based violence can be exercised. The aim of the seminar is to offer a space for critical and interdisciplinary reflection in order to understand the transformative potential of this approach without hiding its potential limitations.
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