Theorizing a Spectrum of Aggression: Microaggressions, Creepiness, and Sexual Assault

Abstract

Microaggressions are seemingly negligible slights that can cause significant damage to frequently targeted members of marginalized groups. Recently, Scott O. Lilienfeld challenged a key platform of the microaggression research project: what's aggressive about microaggressions? To answer this challenge, Derald Wing Sue (the psychologist who has spearheaded the research on microaggressions) needs to theorize a spectrum of aggression that ranges from intentional assault to unintentional microaggressions. I suggest turning to Bonnie Mann's "Creepers, Flirts, Heroes and Allies" for inspiration. Building from Mann's richer theoretical framework will allow Sue to answer Lilienfeld's objection and defend the legitimacy of the concept, 'microaggression'.

Toward a Harm-Based Account of Microaggressions

“…There are important theoretical and practical reasons for being able to single out microaggressions from aggressions and violence. We agree with McClure (2019) that microaggressions can be understood along a continuum of harmful acts or acts that contribute to oppression. We need our theory of microaggressions to have the ability to demarcate acts that are properly seen as microaggressions from those that are overtly aggressive and violent.…”

“…Racial and other slurs surely do not fall within the bounds of a microaggression. Equating hate speech and slurs with microaggressions is conceptually flawed insofar as it renders the category to be so large and amorphous that it becomes essentially meaningless (for other accounts of theorists grappling with the bounds of the concept, see McClure, 2019McClure, , 2020Rini, 2020).…”

Analyzing Hidden Elements in Disney Movies and Effects on Children

“…Disney movies have some hidden and dark themes, including violence (Schimmel, 2019), nudity (Frankel, 2019), sexuality (Perlino, 2017), aggression (McClure, 2019), ethnicity (Thomas, Cross & Harrison III, 2018), and stereotyping (Streiff & Dundes, 2017). Children cannot differentiate between truth and lying themselves, and distortion of reality can easily manipulate them.…”

#MeToo: the Role and Power of Bystanders (aka Us)

“…Addressing these micro-insults and micro-invalidations directly or indirectly can prevent an accumulation of insults to the survivors or intended groups. Addressing them might also prevent macro-assaults by changing what is acceptable in the culture [37,50].…”