Stereotypes

and
Bias
What is a Stereotype?
 A preconceived idea that attributes
certain characteristics (in general) to
all members of a group.
 An exaggerated image of a person or
group, allowing for little variation or
individual differences
 Simplistic or inaccurate beliefs about
typical characteristics of a group of
people.
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 What is Bias?
 Tendency or preference towards a perspective, ideology or result.

 Tends to interfere with the ability to be impartial, unprejudiced,

or objective.
 Can be explicit or implicit.

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Where do stereotypes
and bias come from?
• Friends
• Family
• Television
• Community
• Politics
• Cultural Differences
• Personal Experiences
• Human Nature 4
 Stereotypes and Bias

Staff: Students:
• Unlawful discrimination • Low student achievement

• Others losing their sense of • Disproportionate discipline

“belonging” • Increased absenteeism
• Low employee morale • Widen achievement gap
• Negative community image • Compound bad behaviors

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 Stereotypes and Bias
How does it affect us?

• Perception – how we see people and perceive reality.

• Attitude – how we react towards certain people.
• Behaviors – how receptive/friendly we are towards certain people.
• Attention – which aspects of a person we pay most attention to.
• Listening Skills – how much we actively listen to what certain people say.
• Micro-affirmations – how much or how little we comfort certain people in certain situations.
HOW DO WE RECOGNIZE IT?

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 Common Stereotypes

1. Gender

2. Age

3. Socio-economic

4. Race

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 Gender Stereotypes
What are some examples in our educational Comments that suggest stereotypes:
field?
• “Girls are smarter than boys.”
• Confident male is a “go-getter,” BUT confident
female is “pushy” • I’m surprised that she’s doing well in this shop
class.”
• Male that aren’t assertive are “weak”
• “If he’s teaching drama, he must be gay.”

• “He throws like a girl.”

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 Age Stereotypes

What are some examples in our Comments that could suggest

educational field? stereotypes:

• Younger people are “lazy” or have • “We need ‘energetic people’, fresh
“weak work ethic.” blood.”

• Older people are “tired” or “old • “He needs to drop his prehistoric
fashioned.” ways.”
• “They usually don’t stick around
• Older people are stuck in their
beyond 2 years.”
ways.
• Younger people don’t listen.
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 Socioeconomic Stereotypes

What are some examples in Comments that suggest

educational field? stereotype:
• Person not respected • “Your neighborhood doesn’t
because no steady work have an HOA?”
history.
• “He’s rough-looking…”
• Person excluded because
they don’t dress nicely. • “Did you see that wreck she’s
driving.”
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 Race Stereotypes

What are some examples in Comments that suggest

the educational field? stereotype:
• Some receive jobs due to • “Be careful. ‘Those’
knowing the Superintendent people…”
but aren’t qualified
• He’s just not a “good fit.”
• A person received a job
because they speaks Spanish

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Bias
Where Bias Lives in Our Brain

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Bias Can Be Conscious or Unconscious

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 Types of Unconscious Bias

1. Conformity Bias

2. Beauty Bias

3. Halo/Horns Effect

4. Similarity/ Contrast Effect

5. Affinity Bias

6. Attribution Bias

7. Confirmation Bias
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Conformity Bias

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 Beauty Bias

Ask yourself:

• Am I basing my decision on
judgments about how the person
looks (dress, hair, etc.)?

• Is that impacting how I interpret

and value this person?

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 Halo/Horns Effect
Ask yourself:

• Is the fact that this person is really good (or not good) at one thing
impacting how I feel about other things they do?

• How can I separate the two?

• Might I get perspective from a peer?

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Similarity/ Contrast Effect

Ask yourself:

• Is this person’s style similar or

different to my own?

• Is that impacting how I

interpret and value this
person?

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 Affinity Bias

Ask yourself:

• Does this person remind me of someone or something I like / don’t like?

• Is that impacting how I interpret and value this person?

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Attribution Bias

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 20 Ways to Strategies to Mitigate Bias
1. Establish up front criteria

2. Batch decisions

3. Make room for different styles

4. Look for patterns

5. Get broad, diverse input

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 Strategies to Mitigate Bias

6. Recognize and accept that everyone has biases.

7. Shine a light on yourself.

8. Practice constructive uncertainty.

9. Explore awkwardness and discomfort.

10. Learn about people

 Strategies to Mitigate Bias

11. Take the Implicit Association Test.

12. Identify situations in which your implicit biases impact your behavior.

13. Make an effort to be friendlier and act less threatened when interacting
with people you perceive as different.

14. Become aware of your “positive stereotypes.”

15. Hang out with people who are different than you.
 Strategies to Mitigate Bias

16. Personal awareness

17. Acknowledge

18. Have empathy

19. Advocate

20. Educate
Summing it up –

What's in it for you when you take

the action to mitigate stereotypes
and bias in your actions?

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 Keith Reynolds
Director of Training in Equity and Diversity
AMAC rm. 401
Tel. 973-4572
Fax 973-4692
kreynolds1@usd259.net

Thank
You