General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: What the heck is a microaggression, anyway? [View all]daredtowork
(3,732 posts)the primary feature of microaggression isn't the particular offense - that's the aspect the dominant class always latches on to in order to diminish or belittle the complaint.
The primary feature is how it draws on a larger discourse of denigration to fuel its power to demean. For instance, calling a black man "boy"would be a mere insult if it were a one-off insult like "you're ugly!"
However, when the insult "boy" is boosted by the power of historical context - and that historical context is widely known so many peopke can reinforce the insult and make it a social fact - it becomes a microaggression in a sneaky class war. And the victims can't fight back because it is a micro attack that gains strength in being reinforced by many rather than one strong attack made by an accountable individual.
Microaggression is not a faddish neologism, it is an extremely useful concept that needs more dissemination. But it tends to be opposed by people who want to discourage any class-based analysis, and especially the notion class war exists.
Hope this sinks in for you hifiguy, because I think you're on the right track in general. Don't let those MRA guys hoodwink you.