4. Implicit Bias
Implicit Bias
Implicit bias broadly refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner.
These biases, which encompass both favourable and unfavourable assessments, are activated involuntarily and without an individual’s awareness or intentional control, often because of 'single stories' we hear about certain people or places. Actions or reactions driven by implicit biases often don't take into account the many facets of identity that interact within a single individual.
Our lives, both personal and professional, are composed of many overlapping stories.
In this section, we will explore the realities and implications that manifest when we only hear a singular story. How can we actively listen with intention thereby actively learning, and in some cases, unlearning the stereotypes we have internalized? Through reflection, it is possible to question even implicit biases and bring in richer, multiple voices and stories in your professional practice and everyday life.
Watch the following video to hear novelist Chimamanda Adichie tell the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice -- and warn that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding.
TEDGlobal video: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The danger of a single story
Source: https://www.ted.com/talks/chimamanda_ngozi_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story
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