Conscious bias is the biased attitudes about a certain group we are aware of. In conscious bias, we know we are being biased, and we are doing it intentionally. For example, a person prefers to work with men rather than women, or a person who doesn’t like to associate people with a different culture. These are all prejudices, which can discriminate against certain groups of people. In addition, conscious bias can be easily determined by the ideas and behaviour of a person.
For instance: Research shows that people considered ‘attractive’ are more likely to be offered a job, more significant opportunities to develop, and more likely to be promoted.
How to avoid beauty bias: Removing any photos from applications and ensuring an objective assessment can help prevent beauty bias. However, it could still become an issue at the interview stage or with existing employees