Implicit/Unconscious Bias

Hello Trailblazers,

This week we will be discussing the topic of implicit bias. Implicit bias is our unconscious minds making snap judgements about others based on identities of gender, race, age, religion, sexuality, abilities, and more. These unconscious biases can lead to accidental bias and discrimination against people who perceive as "different" from us. Everyone's brain does this naturally to quickly process our environment to make decisions for our wellbeing. Although our brain uses it to try to protect us, it can often lead to unnecessary prejudice and harmful stereotypes to those around us. These biases can cause us to gravitate to or avoid certain people or groups of people even if we consciously say we have nothing against those individuals or groups.

You can work on preventing these biased thoughts become biased and discriminatory actions by being mindful of these thoughts or instincts as they enter your mind. As we encounters others in the world, start to try to focus on your thoughts, feelings and body sensations when around people different from you. "Othering" is a term used when we think of them as inherently different from us without even knowing anything about them.

Take this quiz below to see how much you know about implicit biases and learn about ones you've never realized existed!

https://www.everywoman.com/my-development/learning-areas/articles/unconscious-bias-quiz-do-you-know-facts