Micro-aggressions and discrimination against non-religious people: Outlining a global social problem

This chapter offers an overview of the social problem concerning discrimination and microaggressions against non-religious people. In this contribution, the term ‘non-religious 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 non-religion 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 non-religion 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, 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: presents the definitions of discrimination and microaggressions against non-religious 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 wellbeing, rights, and social life in different contexts. Furthermore, the chapter presents some suggestions for future research.