New Books in Philosophy cover image

New Books in Philosophy

Regina Rini, "The Ethics of Microaggression" (Routledge, 2020)

Jan 4, 2021
Regina Rini, a Canada Research Chair at York University, dives into the complex world of microaggressions. She challenges the perception that these subtle insults are insignificant, highlighting their real impact on marginalized communities. Rini offers innovative takes on skepticism surrounding microaggressions, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging personal experiences. She also discusses strategies for addressing microaggressors and explores the ethical implications of blame and accountability in fostering societal change. Plus, she hints at future work examining social media's effects on our interactions.
01:02:19

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Microaggressions, though subtle and often unintended, accumulate significant psychological harm for marginalized individuals, necessitating serious consideration of their effects.
  • Understanding the historical context of microaggressions is crucial, as they reflect longstanding societal structures of racism and inequality rather than being mere subjective perceptions.

Deep dives

Understanding Microaggressions

Microaggressions are defined as subtle and often unintentional remarks or behaviors that convey negative messages to marginalized groups. The discussion highlights how these seemingly insignificant interactions can accumulate to create a harmful environment for individuals, particularly those from minority backgrounds. Although such acts may appear trivial at first glance, they can have significant psychological consequences, including feelings of exclusion and invalidation. The importance of recognizing the layered complexities of microaggressions lies in their subtlety and the pervasive social structures that perpetuate them.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode