Subtle Acts of Exclusion

INTRODUCTION

Changing Minds and Behavior

THIS IS A BOOK about the subtle, confusing, insidious things that people say and do that end up excluding people with marginalized identities. This happens even though, for the most part, people are not intending to exclude others at all. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. They may be trying to compliment someone or learn more about a person or be funny or build closeness. For decades now, people have called these slights “microaggressions,” but in this book we will use the term “subtle acts of exclusion” (SAE) as a way to better describe and communicate this phenomenon. If we are going to create spaces that are more inclusive, respectful, and collaborative, we must understand and address these interactions. ...