Unwinding Prejudice: Structured Equality (Part 5)

Presented by Evelyn Carter with Commune

Tags: bias, equality, stereotypes

“You can’t stop being bias just because you know it’s a possibility. You have to develop strategies and a plan of action.”

Creating Structural Safeguards to Reduce the Effects of Bias

  • Create friction
    • Keeps us safe and slows us down
    • Allows more time during decision-making
    • Reduces the likelihood of bias interfering
  • Have accountability partners
    • Someone you check in with about the choices you’re making
    • Not someone who thinks exactly as you do
    • Helps you make a better decision in the long run
  • Set up multiple checkpoints
    • Ensures there are serval opportunity to be engaged in as bias-free a process as possible
  • Create clear rules and use them for everyone
    • We often shift our standards to account for other information (often from stereotypes) when using subjective criteria
    • Be consistent with the criteria you use to evaluate others
  • Expand your ingroup
    • Interact and connect with people from different background
    • Diversify your networks to gain greater perspective of others
  • Others things you can do:
    • Take personal responsibility for creating the structural change you wish to see
    • Find support with like-minded people
    • Join social justice oriented groups
    • Connect with other people who share your goals both online and offline
    • Use your access and power to uplift other communities

Resources to learn more:

Searching for Excellence: Evidence-Based Strategies for Equitable and Inclusive Faculty Hiring

Written in Black & White: Exploring Confirmation Bias in Racialized Perceptions of Writing Skills

Learn more from Evelyn:

Identity & Bias (Part 1)

Identifying Implicit Attitude (Part 2)

The Impact of Bias (Part 3)

Techniques for Reducing Bias (Part 4)

More from Commune

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