Final answer:
Microaggressions are subtle forms of discrimination often unintentionally expressed towards members of historically excluded groups. They manifest in various ways, from individual discriminatory remarks to institutional and systemic racism. However, pure personal thoughts or feelings that are not externalized do not constitute microaggressions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Microaggressions are everyday instances of various forms of subtle discrimination, such as racism, homophobia, sexism, and ableism, among others. They can be verbal or nonverbal, and are often unintentional on the part of the perpetrator. Yet, these thinly veiled insults deeply impact individuals from historically excluded groups by denying them their identity and agency. For instance, questioning someone's origin after they have stated where they are from undermines their identity as a member of their community and can be seen as a form of microaggression. These can occur in several realms, but there is usually an exception where they might not manifest, which could be a purely personal realm where one's private thoughts or feelings are not expressed externally.
Microaggressions are not usually found in the personal realm, as they involve active interaction with others. They manifest in different ways, ranging from individual discrimination to more ingrained forms such as institutional discrimination and systemic racism. Distinguishing between explicit and implicit attitudes is crucial. While people might consciously subscribe to egalitarian views, their implicit attitudes, which are unconscious, can still harbor biases resulting in microaggressions.