The Humanities Research Colloquium will host Dr. Javiera Perez Gomez, associate professor of philosophy in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, who will share “When Are Microaggressions Wrong?” on Wednesday, April 9, at 4 p.m. in Marquette Hall 105. The event can also be viewed virtually via Teams.
Light refreshments will be provided.
Microaggressions are actions that send problematic messages to and about individuals concerning their (perceived) membership in a social group. For example, in the United States, asking a person who is visibly of Hispanic descent “Where are you from?” may, in some contexts, send a message that “Hispanics do not belong in the United States.” Scholars tend to agree that such actions ought to be prevented because they cause irritation or offense, express disrespect or perpetuate oppression. But when do our actions send such messages, and are these actions always wrong?
In this talk, Perez Gomez argues that there are various ways our actions can send problematic messages and that, while some of these messages are harmful, not all microaggressions are wrong.
For more information or to obtain the meeting link, email Dr. Melissa Ganz, associate professor of English.
