What’s Happening Here?
A student tells a fellow student, “You’re pretty for someone with your skin color.”
This is a microaggression. It’s hurtful because it suggests people with that skin color aren’t usually considered pretty.
In the smelly lunch skit, what made the comment harmful?
It disrespected someone’s culture and made them feel embarrassed.
A) A hurtful joke said once
B) Small comments said repeatedly
Both, one comment can really hurt in the moment, but repeated comments can slowly make someone feel like they don’t belong.
A group assumes one student will be good at math because of their background.
This is a stereotype. It’s a problem because it judges someone without actually knowing them.
Why is food important to culture?
It connects to family, traditions, and identity.
A) Excluding someone from a game
B) Letting them play but not talking to them
Both are forms of exclusion, but total exclusion can feel more obvious while silent exclusion can still make someone feel invisible.
A student says, “Girls aren’t usually good at this game.”
This is a stereotype because it assumes something about a whole group instead of individuals.
In the hair skit, why is touching someone’s hair without permission a problem?
It invades their personal space and treats them like an object.
A) Saying a stereotype
B) Staying silent when you hear one
Both matter, but saying it causes harm directly while silence allows it to continue. As people we all have the obligation to speak up and be an ally when we witness unfair treatement.
A student tells another, “Go back to where you came from.”
This is racism because it tells someone they don’t belong in a place based on their background, which can make them feel excluded and unwelcome.
What is a microaggression?
A small comment or action that can hurt someone because of their identity.
A) Someone makes a joke about a group they don’t understand
B) Someone repeats that joke after hearing it was offensive
Both are harmful, but repeating it shows awareness and still choosing to continue.
A group is laughing at someone’s lunch, and one student says;
“Guys chill, that’s not actually funny.” What is this an example of?
This is allyship because they are speaking up in the moment to stop others from hurting someone, even when others are going along with it.
What is a typical example of a microaggression a student might experience at school?
Examples include making fun of cultural foods, touching someone's hair without asking, or mocking a student’s accent.
A) Making fun of someone’s accent once
B) Copying their accent repeatedly
Both are harmful, but repeated mocking can feel more personal and targeted over time.