What are universities and schools doing to tackle ‘microaggressions’?

Schools and universities are often viewed as safe spaces that are more liberal and progressive, but even students and teachers have felt unfairly targeted because of their race in recent years.

Most black and minority ethnic (BME) teachers say they have experienced racism in schools in the last year – and more than a third say the problem has got worse over the past 12 months.

Schools are not immune to growing societal issues such as racism. Recent research from Opinium found that ethnic minorities in Britain have faced increasingly overt racism since the Brexit referendum.

But it is not only overt racial abuse that is the issue. Most BME teachers say they have experienced comments that are demeaning to their racial heritage or identity – known as “microinsults” – and everyday attempts to deny the validity of their identity – often described as “microinvalidations”.

These racial “microaggressions”, which are subtle but offensive comments directed at BME people, have gained increasing attention in the sector. The buzz-word has made its way to UK universities from the US.

Just last week, the University of Sheffield announced it would hire and pay 20 students to challenge microaggressions to reduce racism on campus and in student accommodation. Vice-chancellor Koen Lamberts said the initiative wanted to “change the way people think about racism”.

Examples of microaggressions, which can be unintentionally offensive, can include a white person asking a BME person “Where are you from?” or “Where were you born?” as it suggests they are foreigners.

But challenging the remarks in the workplace can be very difficult because they are subtle and often those who make them may not realise they have caused offence. BME teachers say they have been described as “oversensitive” and “paranoid” when raising such communication as an issue.

Already Sheffield’s efforts to address the trend have come under fire for its potential negative impact on free speech.

Iain Mansfield, from think tank Policy Exchange, has said that offensiveness of a comment is entirely subjective and has added that using students to police language is “authoritarian and sinister”.

But something has to be done to reduce the negative experiences still faced by black pupils and teachers across Britain.

Campaigners say more guidance and training is needed so staff and students understand how their comments may cause offence to minority groups.

But one of the solutions has to be boosting the number of BME teachers in schools and BME academics on campus. Until the workforce is diversified – and people are educated about all the forms of racism – many BME people will still feel like outsiders.