Microaggressions: What They Are and Why They Matter

Authors

Catharine Wells, Boston College Law School

Document Type

Law Review Article

Publication Date

7-2005

Keywords

diverse campus environment, campus climate

Abstract

This paper, addresses how microaggressions affect students in law schools and what law schools and law teachers could do to provide a more favorable environment in which all students - and especially students of color - can flourish. Law schools are competitive places, microaggressions need to be understood in this context. The first section examines some of the harms that microaggressions cause. The second, discusses two forms of microaggression that are present in the law school environment.