Decifrare le microaggressioni : una analisi della letteratura

This literature review explores the concept of microaggressions as subtle, often unintentional forms of discrimination that persist in contemporary societies. Originally coined by psychiatrist Chester M. Pierce in the 1970s, microaggressions have been extensively developed by Derald Wing Sue, who emphasizes their cumulative psychological and social impact. The paper analyzes the ambiguous nature of microaggressions, their processual structure (episode, evaluation, reaction, interpretation, consequence), and their typologies: microassaults, microinsults, and microinvalidations. These acts, though seemingly minor, reproduce social hierarchies and marginalization through implicit messages of exclusion and inferiority. Furthermore, the text distinguishes microaggressions from macroaggressions, which are systemic and institutionalized expressions of oppression embedded in policies, cultural products, and organizational practices. Highlighting the intersection of power and social categorization, the authors argue that recognizing, naming, and deconstructing microaggressions is essential to promoting social justice and equity. The paper concludes with a call to critically reflect on dominant ideologies and implement strategies to dismantle both subtle and structural forms of discrimination.