Welcome to our Microaggression Quiz
A microaggression is a subtle, often unintentional comment, action, or behaviour that communicates a negative, stereotyped, or exclusionary message toward someone because of an aspect of their identity; such as race, gender, disability, age, or nationality.
The key idea is that the impact on the person receiving it matters more than the intent.
For each question, does it describe a microaggression?
Please select one answer for each question.
After you have submitted your answers, what we think are the correct answers will be shown with an explanation.
1.
A manager repeatedly mispronounces an employee’s name even after being corrected several times.
2.
A sales associate follows a customer more closely than others because of assumptions about their likelihood to steal.
3.
Complimenting a colleague by saying, “Your English is amazing,” even though they were born locally.
4.
Asking a colleague about their cultural traditions because you’re genuinely curious and they’ve invited the conversation.
5.
A team member interrupts another repeatedly in meetings, but does this to everyone equally.
6.
Giving feedback on a colleague’s presentation style (e.g., pace, clarity, structure) with no reference to identity or stereotypes.
7.
A supervisor assumes a woman in a mixed‑gender group will take notes during a meeting.
8.
A colleague chooses to eat lunch alone to recharge and avoid small talk.
9.
A colleague asks another, "Do you need any adjustments to help you work comfortably?"
10.
A manager assigns a physically demanding task to a younger employee because they assume the older employee might struggle.
