Two scholars responsible for the prevalence of the neologism microaggression told The Chronicle of Higher Education they're sorry for how their research has been misused to end conversations. A microaggression is a minor, unintentional, yet nonetheless punishable offense in liberal social circles whereby supposedly privileged individuals unknowingly slight somebody else. Many college campuses have systems in place that allow aggrieved students to report microagressions anonymously, avoiding any interaction with the offending party.
But the original intention was to educate, not punish, unenlightened microaggressors, says Derald Wing Sue. The professor at Columbia Teachers College edited Microaggressions and Marginality, a collection of essays and studies published in 2010 that's since gone on to guide the policing of interactions at workplaces and schools. Here's the Chronicle:
www.weeklystandard.com
