Worn Down by Words

The world’s first encyclopedia for microaggressions, The Micropedia of Microaggressions, launched in December 2021 and has since been used in over 125 countries and been incorporated into countless diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs across public, private and non-profit sectors. A new travelling art exhibit, Worn Down by Words, is now being hosted to further raise awareness of the harmful impact of these everyday slights and what we can do about it.

Microaggressions are often referred to as a death by a thousand paper cuts due to their repetitive nature. This notion inspired the exhibit that includes four provocative pieces, each visualizing the impact these phrases can have on a person’s mental health. Each microaggression is shown outside of a laser cut silhouette: “Where are you really from?”, “That’s so gay,” “She’s such a bitch,” and “Shouldn’t all lives matter?” The silhouette itself is constructed several layers deep of cut paper, demonstrating how words can wear someone down over time. The internalized harm is represented in a final red layer. The series is displayed with a QR code driving to TheMicropedia.org for further learning and prevention.