A mispronounced name. A surprised comment about flawless English. A question about 'where you’re really from'. These moments may seem small, but students and experts warn they are part of a rising tide of racist microaggressions that are isolating ethnic minorities from Australian society.

A recent Monash Lens article highlighted the insidious nature of racial microaggressions, noting that they are often dismissed as trivial yet can cause significant harm. The article cited examples such as: dismissive comments about someone’s name, claims that it’s all 'just a joke', or fetishising someone’s physical appearance. 

The article argued that these seemingly minor incidents have a profound "othering" effect. Microaggressions are described as “disciplinary mechanisms” that reinforce who belongs and who remains the “other.”

Alies Lintangsari, a student representative in Monash University’s Faculty of Education and a contributor to the Monash Lens piece, told MOJO News that racial microaggressions are present within the university environment. 

“The thing about microaggressions is that they are so subtle that they go unrecognised. But just because they’re subtle doesn’t mean they don’t exist,” Lintangsari said. 

“It’s a bit like seeing a ghost: you might have experienced it, but you hesitate to share it because you’re afraid others will think you’re imagining things,” she said.

Lintangsari also noted that the elusive nature of microaggressions makes them harder to address, allowing them to persist without sufficient institutional attention.

“Because they’re hard to pinpoint, people tend to talk about them less. But by naming and acknowledging them, we can start breaking the silence around the issue.” 

Lintangsari believed this is an area where Monash could improve. 

“The university does promote an anti-racism policy, which is great, but as far as I know, there’s no specific mention of racial microaggressions. This is something that needs more attention,” she said.

Her solution centres on visibility.

“Name it, talk about it, and make people aware. Then, we can focus on building allies and offering real support for those affected.” 

Krithi Heragu Sanjay Kumar is an international student at Monash studying a Masters of Journalism and International Relations. She has said that she encountered racial microaggressions more frequently in public and workplace settings than at the university.

“I have undergone a lot of criticism in this country. I feel that racial microaggressions are comments that are unintentional, but based on prejudice or bias,” Kumar said. 

She recalled one instance where her manager tried to change her name. 

“Initially, I was very confused. I just go by K now, because the opposite person may not be able to spell my name correctly. It brings up a lot of issues.” 

Kumar believes microaggressions can be unlearned through conscious effort, starting early. 

“Schools play a huge role. Parents play a huge role in teaching children what is right and what is wrong. It’s in the movies we watch and the way we depict each other,” she said.

While Kumar noted that Monash generally provides a safe space for students to express their concerns, she agreed with Lintangsari that more must be done.

“They should train their staff and students to talk about inclusivity and unconscious bias. This is definitely something they need to do more of.” 

A Monash spokesperson told MOJO News the university is working to ensure all members of its community feel safe.

“Monash University is committed to ensuring our community is free from racism, and is actively working to ensure all members of our community feel safe and are able to participate fully in life at Monash." 

The spokesperson said respect and inclusion are key. “We recognise that racism manifests in many different ways and continue to ensure that respect and inclusion are fundamental pillars of our university.” 

The spokesperson also said Monash focuses on “delivering cultural safety and anti-racism training to students and staff”. 

While Monash doesn’t directly name racial microaggressions as an area it focuses on, the university encourages students who have been affected by racism to report incidents and get support.

Lintangsari and the Faculty of Education equity and inclusion committee will run an in-person seminar on September 8, aiming to address the realities of racial microaggressions. 

The committee said that this seminar “aims to foster awareness, understanding and action through meaningful conversation”.