Resisting Unconscious Bias Requires Recognition of its Effects in Life
The identities we hold shape who we are and the perceptions we hold about the world around us. Now, just because it is our perception of the world we live in does not mean that it is entirely accurate. Unconscious biases perpetuate thoughts and ideas support prejudices and internal judgments based on how people look, act, or talk.
It is among my worst fears to be judged solely on how I appear. I’ve struggled for a long time to reconcile what part my disability plays in my life. I've decided that being the ‘girl with the walker’ is an integral part of who I am, it has shaped who I’ve become, yet I’m not defined by it. This is the mindset that I apply to my identities and judgments born of unconscious biases.
Today, we were asked to talk about the blindspots in our identities where unconscious bias might hide. This is the most important process to undergo especially as designers because it teaches us to recognize where we have little understanding or a lot of privilege blinding us to the reality of life. I have no idea what it is to live in a single-parent household, or what it is like to not have access to education. One way I could rectify this is by forming connections with people that don’t confirm my unconscious bias by thinking exactly as I do.
Everyone has identities that they carry, but a single identity perceived most prominently by others is not all that there is to that person. Making judgments based on physical attributes is the fastest way to alienate yourself from others because you’ve already presumed to know the person rather than just talking to them and finding out how they define themselves. This is why the recognition of unconscious bias is key to breaking down the barriers that separate humanity.
Whether it be race, religion, gender, sexuality, disability, policy, or economic status, all of these divisive categories are designed to stratify individuals into groups that have no bearing on who they are as human beings. Through the recognition of unconscious bias, design-thinking processes, and embracing technology, we could develop small solutions to combat the larger issues that bias has wrought on modern society.