Advice Needed: Passive Aggressive Prof

I am a professor and agree that a specific example would be helpful here.
More generally, I think a constructive request for more detailed feedback could be helpful. Be
careful: the way in which you approach this likely matters, as truly passive-aggressive individuals are often a bit insecure and may immediately take a defensive posture if they feel challenged or threatened. I suggest a face-to-face discussion during office hours, as it's less impersonal than email, but removes the threat of being put on the spot in front of the whole
class. Make it clear that you're seeking feedback from a position of good faith.
Now, to play the role of devil's advocate for a moment (please bear with me): are you (the OP)
entirely sure that the gender (or some other characteristic) of the professor is not a factor? I only bring this up because research has shown that female and minority professors tend to be evaluated more harshly (both by students and colleagues) than their white male counterparts, all else being equal. In fact, some students may unconsciously expect interactions with female professors (including feedback) to be more comforting or nurturing in nature, as those traits better align with perceived gender norms.

Even the most enlightened among us are not immune from making biased judgements. The good news is that awareness of our own potential for bias allows us to raise these questions about our own judgements and behave more objectively, although it takes motivation and practice.

I hope you take this comment in the spirit it is intended. I do not intend to accuse you or any of your classmates of being biased against your professor. Rather, I hope you share my perspective that there is value in evaluating the factors that lead to such a judgement, from both sides of the equation.

/r/umass Thread