The Ethics of Microaggression

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
	Little things, big harms
	Inarticulate bloviating
	Microaggression skepticism
	A plea to conflict-averse egalitarians
	Notes
1. Microaggression basics
	Chester Pierce and the ways of aggression
	Microaggression gets a little bigger
	Modern microaggression research
	Frequently asked questions
		Is microaggression really harmful? Sure, little snubs are annoying, but how is anyone getting hurt?
		Fine, microaggressions are harmful. But isn\'t it just hurt feelings? That\'s not a big deal.
		But aren\'t some people just being paranoid? Aren\'t they seeing insults everywhere?
		But come on. It\'s right there in the word: \'micro\'-aggression. That means small, tiny, insignificant. Why should we make such a big deal out of micro- harms when there are great big harms in the world?
		Fine, \'micro\' doesn\'t mean insignificant. But what about the \'aggression\' part? Lots of these things are unintentional, slips of the tongue, just plain screws-ups. How is that aggressive like throwing bricks through windows is aggressive?
		Fine. But why does this have to get all wrapped up in identity politics? Why all this talk about oppression? What about me, a straight white man (etc.)? People are rude to me all the time. Why won\'t you say that I\'m a victim of microaggression too?
	Now for the details
	Notes
2. All in the eye of the beholder?
	Motivations and doubts
	Varieties of microaggression skepticism
	Whose viewpoint counts (more)?
	Ask an expert
	The problem of tragic coincidences
	The Ambiguous Experience Account of microaggression
	The trauma of ambiguity
	Unsettling accounts
	Notes
3. Collective harm and individual blame
	The machinery of oppression
	The Structural Account of microaggression
	Bad environments
	Mass torture, the harmless way
	Redwood furniture
	Double-barreled collective harm
	Blame and luck
	Notes
4. Agency problems: Ignorance and lack of control
	Showing off your catapult
	Elusive ignorance
	Updating the subpersonal
	Sneaky subroutines of oppression
	The mindless epidemiology of prejudice
	Drunk on stereotypes
	Moral agency gets out of control
	Provisional conclusions: It\'s complicated
	Notes
5. Proleptic blame
	How to greet party guests
	Blame for lab rats
	The strains of involvement
	Shame, shame, shame
	Proleptic blame
	From theory to practice
	Notes
6. How to do better
	Remote control
	Pseudoproblems: Brainwashing and censorship
	Mental tire rotation
	Institutional solutions for collective harm
	Safe space
	Reparative renaming
	The anti-oppression chore wheel
	Notes
7. Uptake failure and dismissal
	Uptake failures
	Victimhood narratives and coddling panic
	Bystanders, allies, and risks
	The paradox of proleptic blame
	Notes
8. Skillful blame and social media chaos
	The paternalism problem
	Blaming the blamers?
	Talking down
	Calling out and calling in
	Virtue signaling
	Social media chaos
	Notes
Conclusion: Justice for an imperfect world
References
List of examples and thought experiments
Index