ABSTRACT
The most distinctive issue raised in the current phase of the culture war in higher education is that of microaggression. Those accused of committing an act of microaggression are not simply condemned for their words but also for the hidden meaning and intent that might lurk beneath their remarks. The concept of microaggression provides a narrative that helps interpret the ontological insecurity faced by an individual as the outcome of other people’s acts of bias and injustice. 1 Through offering a wide-reaching account of prejudice, this concept helps to encourage and validate a disposition to be outraged, and fuels a sense of hypervigilance towards potential acts of bias. Microaggression theory both universalises the consciousness of victimisation and contributes to the legitimation of the claims of damaged identity. It can be used to interpret the workings of interpersonal communication in general – but its adherents contend that the signifi cance of microaggression theory lies in illuminating the cultural confl icts of everyday life.
