Implicit Bias- I Don't Really Think That Way

Cassandra James, dei manager 

When people hear the word bias, they tend to get defensive. There’s no need.  We ALL have biases; it’s how you handle them what really matters. So, what is bias exactly? It’s the partiality in judgment and/or behavior that results from subtle cognitive processes (e.g., implicit attitudes and implicit stereotypes) that often operate at a level below conscious awareness and without intentional control. That’s a fancy way of saying that you’re acting and thinking a certain way and the reasons are below the surface.  
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You don’t believe me when I say that we all have biases. What were your first thoughts when you saw the pictures? Did you have assumptions, did you draw conclusions based on her hair? That’s Grammy nominated, live action Little Mermaid Halle Bailey. Do you have a visceral reaction to tattoos? Do you assume the education level or hireability of a person with tattoos? What if I told you that I have eight tattoos? Would that change your thoughts of me? What were your thoughts when you see someone slightly overweight? Do you make assumptions about their lifestyle and health?   
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So what does implicit bias look like, how does it show up?

• Assuming the women in the office will take notes
• Dissuading your son from taking ballet, and pushing your daughter towards it instead
• Disproportionality in discipline
• Teacher mindsets and beliefs
• Housing options
• Hiring decisions
• Stop and Frisk
• Disparate sentencing 

How do we defeat our unconscious bias?

• Watch your first thoughts
  • Your first thought MIGHT be evidence of a bias that you are holding
• Engage logic
  • Ask questions “how many people do I know that have this?”  Why am I making this assumption
• Take a step back
  • Now that you’ve asked yourself the questions, pause and give yourself time to reflect on the answer. 
• Defeat bias by cultivating common ground
  • We all have SOMETHING in common, and you might be surprised what it is. Turn to the person sitting next to you and find something that you two have in common

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If you want to learn more about implicit bias, you can take the Harvard Implicit Bias test. Also, you can learn more about unconscious bias by completing your mandatory training,