Microaggressions and Discrimination Against Nonreligious People
摘要
This chapter offers an overview of the social problem concerning discrimination and microaggressions against nonreligious people. In this contribution, the term “nonreligious people” is used as an umbrella word which includes atheists, agnostics, and all the different categories of people who do not believe in any God or do not have any religious affiliation. Since nonreligion is an increasing phenomenon in several countries, situations of discrimination related to this condition have increased too, in particular in countries with a dominant religion and conservative religious groups. The characteristics of nonreligion have changed in the last two decades, and the phenomenon has become statistically visible in several countries in the Global North and South. Discrimination and microaggressions can impact people of different ages, social class, ethnicity, and gender, with intersectional effects. However, literature is frequently scant, an underestimation of these phenomena is very likely, and, therefore, many factors, effects on people’s lives, and appropriateness of laws and policies still require further studies. This chapter offers a state-of-the-art review: it presents the definitions of discrimination and microaggressions against nonreligious people, an overview of the statistical dimensions and characteristics of these phenomena, and the main research studies available about the outcomes of this social problem on the people’s well-being, rights, and social life in different contexts. Furthermore, the chapter presents some suggestions for future research.