Kevin Nadal, an associate professor of psychology at CUNY's John Jay College, photographed some of his friends who are members of the LGBT community, sharing microaggresions they've experienced in their lives.
Defined as an "everyday encounter of subtle discrimination that people of various marginalized groups experience throughout their lives," microaggressions are an often ignored aspect of discrimination that many people deal with. The inspiration for this LGBT microaggression photography project came from Nadal's desire to make the general public more aware of the subtle but nonetheless hurtful impact peoples language can have one the lives of others.
Kevin Nadal is someone who is truly passionate about this issue, his research on microgressions show that those who experience them on a frequent basis are "more likely to report symptoms of depression, psychological distress, and even physical health issues."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Microaggression Awareness
- Capturing and sharing microaggressions through photography brings awareness to the subtle but impactful discrimination experienced by marginalized groups.
- Empathy Building
- Photographs that depict real-life microaggressions help foster empathy and understanding towards the experiences of LGBT individuals.
- Image-based Education
- Using photography as a tool for education and awareness about microaggressions promotes a visual understanding of the issue.
Where This Applies
- Photography
- Photographers can explore the use of their craft to raise awareness of social issues and promote empathy.
- Education
- Educators can utilize photography as a visual medium to teach about discrimination and social justice.
- Social Activism
- Social activists can employ photography to showcase the everyday experiences of marginalized communities and advocate for change.
