There are numerous incidents where people experience microaggression that goes unnoticed which can be frustrating and discouraging to them. Microaggressions are those small but repeated insults that often go unnoticed, and it is possible for one person to have experienced it without knowing what has been said to them. They may also come in the form of stereotypes, prejudice, racist remarks or even discrimination at workplace. This has become an issue because it leads to mental trauma and stress among individuals who might feel dejected when they are excluded from certain groups. In addition, this type of behavior has been identified to accumulate moral harm and affect the way people view themselves, leading to low self-esteem and self-confidence levels. The purpose of this essay is to explore how persistent and subtle forms of exclusion lead to such negative impacts and effects. One of the major causes of moral harms emanates from the fact that it tends to make people lose their identities since they feel like they do not belong anywhere. When someone feels like they cannot fit into any group due to constant insults or remarks, then this means that their morals will be affected. Moreover, they tend to question their existence and whether there is any point of living because they would see no value in life. Such situations are common in the workplace where some people are denied promotion opportunities because they were not born into a particular social class or ethnicity. Others also find themselves working harder than others yet they get less pay compared to others simply because they lack connections.
One of the other reasons why microaggression can lead to moral harm is that it makes people feel unwelcome and lonely.
If a black student is repeatedly made fun of by white students in school for being different, it would mean that he/she does not fit into the school culture. Such behaviors tend to isolate them which creates a feeling of worthlessness and inferiority complex. This makes them lose hope as they do not know what future awaits them. They may even give up on dreams of achieving certain things in life and try to live a monotonous lifestyle. These experiences can cause trauma among individuals who might end up developing mental illnesses. It also affects their performance levels at schools or places of work and may lead to dropouts or quitting jobs respectively. Other people become frustrated with such experiences, leading to feelings of anger, rage, jealousy, and resentment towards the society around them. The emotions accumulated from these incidents can make one behave abnormally or engage in unethical conducts. In addition, this leads to the development of an attitude of revenge whereby they want to seek vengeance against those discriminating against them.
Subtle forms of exclusion also lead to moral harms since some people have no choice but to accept it. Sometimes when someone feels like they cannot defend themselves due to a position they hold in the company or organization, then they have to deal with the situation until it becomes too much to bear. When there are constant insults and remarks about race, sexual orientation, religion, or gender, then the individual will be forced to feel ashamed.
When a black person is told by other colleagues that they only got promoted because of affirmative action. Such situations make them feel humiliated and worthless. Their morals would be affected and they develop hatred for themselves which further creates more problems. The feeling of being unwanted and rejected makes them suffer low self-esteem which reduces their chances of succeeding in life. They tend to doubt their abilities and skills simply because they do not think they deserve better. This has been cited as a major contributor to depression among many individuals who view themselves as failures in life.
Microaggression and subtle forms of exclusion are real issues that need attention from everyone. People should learn how to treat each other regardless of color, creed, ethnicity, gender, or any other differences. The society needs to create an environment free from such behaviors whereby everyone feels welcome and accepted. By creating awareness on this matter through counselors, educators, and leaders, we can help reduce cases of mental illnesses that arise out of rejection. Everyone should also learn to live together as one people without discriminating against others based on what they perceive is wrong.
What moral harm accumulates from persistent microaggressions and subtle forms of exclusion?
The persistence of microaggression and subtle forms of exclusion can have detrimental effects on an individual's well-being and sense of belonging. It is essential to understand that these actions are not only limited to explicit forms of discrimination but also include the dismissive comments, stereotypes, and biased assumptions made about minority groups by individuals who may not even realize they are doing it.