{"id":36584,"date":"2024-03-13T08:21:43","date_gmt":"2024-03-13T15:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/?p=36584"},"modified":"2024-03-20T06:47:41","modified_gmt":"2024-03-20T13:47:41","slug":"reflections-stereotype-threat-and-unconscious-bias","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.georgefox.edu\/dlgp\/reflections-stereotype-threat-and-unconscious-bias\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections: Stereotype Threat and Unconscious Bias"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reading Sway: Unravelling Unconscious Bias<\/em> by Dr. Pragya Agarwal, is a reflective process. It’s uncomfortable discussing bias due to my intersecting identities as a Caucasian American woman. I’m feeling awkward acknowledging the unconscious bias I experience as a female and as a former expatriate, while simultaneously feeling regretful of my unintentional biases. I\u2019m painfully aware of the adjustments I\u2019ve made to avoid getting hurt and how my silence may have impacted others. I relate to Agarwal\u2019s personal story of losing part of her own identity and sense of belonging when faced with the unconscious biases of others.[1]<\/a> Agarwal writes, \u201cAwareness is always the first step. Only then can we address it.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

Dr. Agarwal utilized multiple stories, theories, studies, and brain science to explain unconscious bias. I found this condensed definition helpful. The Dictionary of Organizational Behavior <\/em>defines unconscious bias as, \u201cThe bias we bring into our judgements and decision-making without realizing we are doing so. Unconscious (or implicit) bias is based on factors such as our background, culture, and experiences and is often prevalent in situations where we need to make quick decisions. It is affected by the way that (unconsciously) we order and categorize people on the basis of factors such as age, gender, or nationality and make assumptions about their qualities. This process is inevitable to some extent and reduces the time it takes to process data, but it also introduces bias.\u201d[3]<\/a> Dr. Agarwal adds race, sexuality, disability, body size, and profession, etc. to the varied ways humans categorize people and from which bias develops.[4]<\/a> Without realizing it unconscious bias may have devastating consequences to others, and to self. Agarwal asserts that we all have unconscious biases.[5]<\/a> We need awareness as we have a moral responsibility to address them, because there is no excuse for discriminatory behavior.[6]<\/a><\/p>\n

Key takeaways<\/em><\/p>\n