Why Does the Term “Microaggression” Piss People Off So Much?
By: Heather M. Edwards
Tags: Culture, Language, Equality, Politics, Racism

All rights @ Jamie Spaniol; Athens, Greece

If hearing terms like microagression, toxic masulinity or white privilege annoys you, makes you feel defensive, frustrates you or even makes you angry your reaction actually proves that you understand, and dislike microaggressions. If merely reading these terms makes you angry enough to call a stranger on the internet a “moronic fuck blister”, (one of many things I’ve been called for writing about white privilege and misogyny), you’re basically acknowledging that you yourself have been wounded by a microaggression.

All I hear in the thick of this hypocrisy is “I’m offended that you’re offended.” And no one has complained about that more than white male comedians. Hannah Gadsby shrewdly deconstructs the upper echelon of who gets to be angry in our society, whose rage is valued as brilliant social commentary while the quest for equality of others is marginalized as knee-jerk overreacting.

“On a daily basis, there’s this repetitive injury that comes with microagressions. It’s really, really simple stuff. It has the impact of greater injury.” — Tiffany R. Warren, Senior VP, Chief Diversity Officer for Omnicom Group

The camel’s back doesn’t break right away, it bends. One straw at a time we bend a little with every insult and every oversight.

The cumulative power of missteps and minor irritations can compound to make reinjury easier. And even more likely. One faux pas can just be a failure to adapt to new terminology, like my uncle who never got the memo that we now describe people as Asian; we only use ‘oriental’ if we’re talking about things. But those who offend, inadvertently or otherwise, are rarely on the receiving end of the wrong terminology or inappropriate topics. And because they are often from a majority population they have only recently started to be labeled. And some among them are detonating in response. None more than the toxic white male being called a toxic white male. Hell hath no fury, no petulant outrage, like a white man who feels unfairly targeted.

If being called out on your toxic masculinity or white privilege infuriates you, you are fundamentally capable of understanding what microagressions are and why they matter. Your reaction to this term, your body’s reflex to something you instinctively reject proves that you understand how little things, race-based assumptions, outdated sexist jokes — even words, can add up. The double standard is as obvious as it is absurd.

Why do those who demand freedom of speech for themselves decry the PC police state and get offended every time a woman or minority tries to exert some self-determination? Why do they recoil at some words and terms but anyone else who does is a libtard or a snowflake? If words are just words, that includes words and terms like boomer, triggered, organic, vegan and safe space. You can’t demand the freedom to use words that other groups feel oppressed or pigeonholed by but reserve the right for yourself to resist or react to the words you don’t like — unless everyone else does too. It cuts both ways, my friends.

Wanting everyone to stop using the term microaggression while simultaneously rolling your eyes or trolling anyone who uses terms like Latinx instead of Latino or trans instead of tranny is hypocritical. Your irritation is not more valid than anyone else’s. And it proves that words have weight. Etymology might be one of humanity’s most abstract endeavors but if words had no meaning, no impact, neither would poetry, your favorite lyrics, your beloved saying ‘Welcome home’ or telling your child ‘I love you.’ It’s why the word ‘moist’ physically repulses so many people.

If words are “just words” you can’t have it both ways. There’s no saw-the-lady-in-half trick you can use to righteously protect your uninhibited First Amendment expression while simultaneously denying someone else theirs.

Sorry, boomer.