UNCONSCIOUS BIAS: DO RACE AND GENDER REALLY MATTER?

Moderator: Amanda VallejoPresenter: Howard M. JenkinsPanelist: Anna Cunningham

Jessica Adams

Unconscious Bias: Do Race and Gender Really Matter?

What is Unconscious Bias– Character traits or perceptions we are unaware of, that happens outside of

our control. • Influenced by personal experience, cultural environment and background • Life experiences / observations triggers our brain to make quick judgement,

assessment of people and situations• Behaviors happens automatically without even realizing

– First step is recognizing that each individual has bias as a result of life experiences• Research indicates bias tendencies are captured in two ways…

o Categorize people and things using easily observed criteria such as age, weight, skin color, and gender.

o Classify people according to educational level, disability, sexuality, accent, social status, and job title

Unconscious Bias: Do Race and Gender Really Matter?

Unconscious bias influences behaviors– Unconscious bias is a learned/observed behavior

• Biases develop at an early ageo Emerge during middle childhood and appear to develop across childhood

• Unconscious biases have real world effects on behavior

– Strategies to address unconscious bias• Promoting self awarenesso Recognizing one’s biases is the first step. o Identifying your bias does not mean surrendering part of yourself or betraying your cultural. It

indicates your desire to change• Understand the nature of biaso Reluctance to overcome bias prevents personal growth

• Provided opportunities to have discussions with otherso Sharing biases can help others feel more secure about exploring their own biases. It’s important

to have these conversation in a safe space where individuals are open to alternative perspectives and view points

• Facilitate discussions and training sessionso Promoting bias literacy utilizing concepts and techniques have proven effective in minimizing bias

and reduces the impact of bias in the workplace.

Unconscious Bias: Do Race and Gender Really Matter?

Creating a conscious inclusive environment– Starts with enhancing interview practices

• Establish/develop diverse gender and cultural interview teams• Teams are to reflect attributes and characteristics that promotes Inclusiveness• Structure interviews with consistent questions

– Change starts with each individual• The most effective (and hardest) way to address personal bias is

meet it face to face.• Check your own feelings about subjects, and preferences regularly.

This allows the opportunity to build practices and skills in letting go bias as well as forces introspection for self assessment

–Actions in creating a conscious inclusive work environment • Self awareness / conscious• Be intentional and committed to change• Consider the situation, individual, environment• Be an agent of change regarding perceptions and relationships• Use context to explain situation when possible• Improve processes, policies and procedures

Unconscious Bias: Do Race and Gender Really Matter?

Influence of race and gender matter– Racial stereotypes exist

• In the workplace despite reduction in blatant forms of discrimination women continue to experience discrimination, such as having their input in groups ignored and having performance devaluedo Professional science organizations indicate that females are seldom awarded

for their accomplishmentso Nature Journal of Science 2006 highlights unless forced to take sexual and racial bias into

account recognition is given to others in their own image Statistics indicate that females in the science receive only 3.2% recognition

• Sports is another area that highlights many stereotypes such as Black men and women basketball players tend to be stereotyped as naturally athletic, quicker, stronger etc.; whereas White players are portrayed in a more positive character traits and as intellectual

– Gender equality• Equality is the goal; however unconscious bias exist in the American Workplace.• Women have made inroads in Corporate America, but the struggle to climb to the

corporate world’s highest ranks still remains difficult• Four out of 10 surveyed in the January 2015 Pew Study indicates there are double

standards for women seeking the highest levels of leadership in politics or business

Unconscious Bias: Do Race and Gender Really Matter?

Be the agent of change– Let’s be Honest

• Whether one believes or not, we all have unconscious biases. However the term unconscious bias has a negative connotation with words such as discrimination , prejudice and stereotype

• Biases whether conscious or unconscious are shaped by our experience, culture and lifestyles, but keep in mind it also affects our decision making.

• This seminar is not intended to be used as playing the “blame game”; however we cannot ignore that unconscious bias exist

• Each of us are tasked to make a difference. Those gathered here at BEYA are leaders as a result of being recognized by your respectively companies. Therefore this seminar is a call to action to bring awareness to bias so it does not impede a company’s organizational goals

• As your career grows with increased responsibilities , it is imperative that we as individuals are to be part of the solution in creating a balanced, diverse and inclusive workplace

• Always keep in mind, “We can do better when we know better”

Unconscious Bias: Do Race and Gender Really Matter?

PANEL DISCUSSION / QUESTION & ANSWER