Microaggressions are seemingly innocuous verbal, behavioural or environmental slights against members of minority communities.

The term microaggression was coined by American psychiatrist Chester Pierce in his 1970 essay Offensive Mechanisms. He explained:

“Most offensive actions are not gross and crippling. They are subtle and stunning. The enormity of the complications they cause can be appreciated only when one considers that these subtle blows are delivered incessantly. Even though any single negotiation of offence can in justice be considered of itself to be relatively innocuous, the cumulative effect to the victim and to the victimiser is of an unimaginable magnitude.”

While originally conceived in the context of race relations, microaggressions may also relate to gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability status, weight or a combination of these.