Everyone Has a Little Implicit Bias and What to Do About It
In 2004, the TONY for Best Musical went to a musical comedy featuring puppets and human actors entitled Avenue Q. One of the more popular songs from that show was “Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist”. The musical closed in 2019 but if it were to return to the stage today I think one addition I would make to this popular song is “Everyone’s Has A Little Implicit Bias.” In addition to racism, we have all been socialized to have biases related to social identities like gender, class, sexuality, color, religion, ability, and more. All bias and oppression are intertwined; none of us are free until all of us are free.
Implicit biases are the attitudes or stereotypes that influence our understanding, actions, and decisions unconsciously. These biases are deeply rooted in our subconscious and can affect how we perceive and interact with others. The good news is that while we all have implicit biases, we can take steps to address and mitigate their impact.
Understanding Implicit Bias
Implicit bias is a natural part of human cognition. Our brains are wired to make quick judgments and categorize information to navigate the world efficiently. However, these shortcuts can lead to unintended and harmful stereotypes and assumptions about others. Here are some key points to help you understand implicit bias better:
1. Everyone Has Implicit Biases
- Implicit biases are universal. They are not a sign of moral failure but a reflection of how our brains process information. The behaviors we exhibit as a result of these biases build the foundation of our character.
- These biases operate below the level of conscious awareness, making them difficult to recognize without deliberate reflection.
2. Origins of Implicit Bias
- Socialization: Socialization is the process by which we form our conception of the social world and our place within it. From an early age, we absorb beliefs and attitudes from our family, community, and media. These beliefs and attitudes about our world can be reinforced by the people and ideas we engage with, or they can be challenged. It is up to us to change our beliefs and behaviors with new information.
- Primary Socialization: This occurs early in life, usually at home, within the family or household, and is reinforced by parents, guardians, close relatives, and other people in the home. In these early years, we learn what types of behaviors and norms are acceptable to the people in our home.
- Secondary Socialization: This happens outside the family, in schools, places of worship, and social groups, where we interact with people who, especially when we are young and in our home community, often share similar backgrounds and beliefs. Secondary socialization can also happen indirectly through media like television, movies, advertisements, music, and social media.
3. Common Implicit Biases
- Gender Bias: Associating certain roles or jobs with a particular gender (e.g., assuming a pilot is male).
- Racial Bias: Associating certain traits or behaviors with specific races (e.g., assuming an Asian-American person is an immigrant or an international student ).
- Body Shape and Size Bias: Associating certain body types with specific characteristics, abilities, or values.
Ability Bias: Making assumptions about people’s capabilities based on visible or invisible disabilities.
What to Do About Implicit Bias
Addressing implicit bias requires a proactive and continuous effort. Here are some actionable steps you can take to recognize and reduce your implicit biases:
1. Increase Self-Awareness
- Reflect on Your Biases: Take time to reflect on your assumptions and judgments about others. Ask yourself where these thoughts come from and how they might affect your behavior. You often won’t notice your biases in the moment, because we can act on them so quickly. Check in with yourself if you feel like you have judged someone unfairly or reacted to someone in a way that goes against your character.
- Seek Feedback: Engage with people with similar backgrounds and ask for feedback on your behavior and attitudes. If you have close relationships with people who have different backgrounds, you can also ask them if they have noticed behaviors in you that may indicate bias that you haven’t noticed yourself. This can provide valuable insights into how your biases may manifest.
2. Educate Yourself
- Diverse Perspectives: Actively seek out books, articles, and media from a variety of perspectives and cultures. Exposure to different viewpoints can challenge and broaden your understanding. Make genuine connections with people from a variety of backgrounds and build a diverse community. Be careful not to tokenize people as you do this.
- Unconscious Bias Training: Participate in training programs focused on recognizing and addressing implicit biases. These programs can provide tools and strategies to mitigate bias. If you feel uncomfortable engaging in these types of conversations it could be an indication that you are on the edge of your comfort zone but when we challenge ourselves is when we truly grow.
3. Challenge Stereotypes
- Question Assumptions: When you catch yourself making an assumption, question its validity. Consider alternative perspectives and challenge stereotypes actively. If you notice other people relying on stereotypes you can challenge them as well and grow together.
- Counter-Stereotypic Imaging: Intentionally visualize individuals in roles or settings that contradict common stereotypes. Your brain stores visualization similarly to lived memories and this practice can help rewire your automatic associations over time.
- Challenge Confirmation Bias: Because the majority of people like to feel like we are correct, we have a tendency to ignore information that proves us wrong. This is part of confirmation bias. For example, if you have a bias that Black people are loud, you might ignore the many Black people you engage with or pass by who aren’t loud and only remember the one Black person who was loud. You may treat people who don’t fit your bias as exceptions to the rule or “one of the good ones.” Instead of ignoring when people defy your stereotypes of them, take note and commit to memory when your biases are challenged and eventually, you will notice how often your personal biases don’t actually apply to others.
The Impact of Addressing Implicit Bias
Recognizing and addressing implicit bias not only improves our personal relationships but also fosters a more inclusive and equitable society. When we challenge our biases, we open ourselves up to new perspectives, experiences, and opportunities. It’s a continuous journey of learning and growth, and it starts with each of us.
In the spirit of Avenue Q’s “Everyone’s a Little Bit Racist” final lyrics, I leave you with this “If we all could just admit, that we all have implicit bias a little bit, And everyone looked at difference impartially, we could all live in harmony”
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Victoria Alexander is on a mission to raise critical consciousness in students to help them explore their racial and social identities, build anti-racist communities, and create social change. Her programs are on Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, Leadership Development, and focus on marginalized communities. Learn more about her programs at www.evergreenspeakers.com/victoria-alexander