Implicit Bias -- how it effects us and how we push through | Melanie Funchess | TEDxFlourCity
TLDRThe speaker addresses the audience with a candid discussion on implicit bias, using personal anecdotes to illustrate its pervasive and often unconscious influence on behavior and decision-making. From medical misdiagnoses to educational discouragement, the talk highlights the detrimental effects of preconceived notions and challenges listeners to confront their own biases. The speaker advocates for self-awareness, dialogue, and transformational activism to foster a more equitable society, concluding with the African concept of Ubuntu to emphasize our interconnectedness.
Takeaways
- 😶 The speaker begins with a preface to acknowledge the discomfort that may arise from discussing sensitive topics like implicit bias.
- 🤔 She challenges the audience to question their beliefs and stay open to new perspectives on themselves and their behaviors.
- 🏠 The first story illustrates implicit bias in a medical setting, where a misdiagnosis due to racial assumptions nearly costs a man his life.
- 🏥 Implicit bias is defined as unconscious attitudes and stereotypes that influence our decisions and behaviors without our awareness.
- 🎓 The second story recounts a personal experience of a young girl whose correct math answer was dismissed due to the teacher's implicit bias about her race and intelligence.
- 👧 The girl's experience highlights the damaging effects of implicit bias on self-esteem and confidence, leading to a personal protest and a call for change.
- 📚 The speaker shares a third story about her daughter, showing that implicit bias can affect educational aspirations and opportunities.
- 🌐 She emphasizes that implicit bias is pervasive and impacts even those with a commitment to impartiality, such as judges.
- 🔄 The speaker suggests that our brains are capable of change and growth, implying that overcoming implicit bias is possible.
- 🤝 She calls for 'transformational activism', urging the audience to engage in self-reflection, connect with diverse groups, and use privilege to create equity.
- 🌟 The talk concludes with the concept of Ubuntu, emphasizing interconnectedness and the idea that our individual identities are shaped by our collective experiences.
Q & A
What is the main message the speaker wants to convey in their talk?
-The speaker aims to discuss the concept of implicit bias, its impact on individuals and society, and encourages self-reflection and action to overcome it.
What is the definition of implicit bias according to the speaker?
-Implicit bias, also known as implicit social cognition, refers to the attitudes and stereotypes that unconsciously affect our behaviors, decisions, and attitudes.
Why does the speaker compare implicit bias to being in 'The Matrix'?
-The comparison is made to illustrate that people often don't realize they have implicit biases, similar to how individuals in 'The Matrix' are unaware of their controlled reality.
What is the story about the young couple and the misdiagnosis the husband received?
-The story tells of a young couple whose husband falls ill and is initially misdiagnosed due to the doctors' implicit biases, focusing on HIV and other diseases associated with stereotypes rather than considering the actual symptoms, which leads to a delayed and accurate diagnosis of Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
How does the speaker describe the experience of the fourth-grade student in the math class?
-The fourth-grade student, despite correctly solving a math problem, is repeatedly told by her teacher that she is wrong due to the teacher's implicit bias, leading to the student's confusion and self-doubt.
What was the outcome of the speaker's daughter's experience with her guidance counselor?
-The guidance counselor's implicit bias led to a suggestion that was less ambitious than the student's goal of attending Cornell and becoming a neuroscientist, causing the student to doubt herself and suffer from depression.
What is the term 'Ubuntu' and what does it represent?
-Ubuntu is a Nguni Bantu term that signifies the interconnectedness of all people, suggesting that one's identity is tied to the community, emphasizing the idea 'I am because we are'.
What steps does the speaker suggest to combat implicit bias?
-The speaker suggests self-awareness, having conversations with family and friends, engaging with diverse groups, and intentionally participating in non-biasing activities.
Why is it important to question our own thoughts and behaviors according to the speaker?
-Questioning our thoughts and behaviors is crucial to recognize and unlearn implicit biases, which can lead to a more equitable and understanding society.
How does the speaker define transformational activism?
-Transformational activism, as defined by the speaker, involves personal growth, connecting with diverse individuals, using privilege to create equity, and engaging in activities that challenge and reduce biases.
What personal experiences does the speaker share to illustrate the impact of implicit bias?
-The speaker shares personal experiences such as her husband's misdiagnosis, her own experience as a fourth-grade student being doubted by her teacher, and her daughter's experience with a guidance counselor who underestimated her aspirations.
Outlines
😷 Implicit Bias in Healthcare: A Personal Story
The speaker introduces the concept of implicit bias with a personal narrative involving a misdiagnosis due to racial stereotypes. A young African-American male falls ill, and despite multiple negative tests, doctors focus on HIV and other diseases associated with certain high-risk behaviors, ignoring the actual condition, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The wife's intervention leads to the correct diagnosis but highlights the dangerous impact of implicit bias on medical professionals' decision-making.
🧐 The Classroom and the Impact of Implicit Bias
The speaker recounts a childhood experience where a teacher's implicit bias affected her perception of a student's abilities. Despite correctly solving a math problem, the student is repeatedly told she is wrong, leading to confusion and self-doubt. This incident underscores how deeply ingrained biases can influence educators' expectations and treatment of students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.
🚫 Challenging Implicit Bias: A Journey of Activism
The speaker describes her first act of non-violent social protest following experiences of implicit bias. She shares a more recent story of her daughter, whose aspirations were undermined by a guidance counselor's low expectations. This leads to a broader discussion about the pervasiveness of implicit bias and its potential to derail individuals' goals and dreams, emphasizing the need for self-awareness and societal change.
🌟 Overcoming Implicit Bias: Steps Towards Transformational Activism
The speaker concludes by outlining steps to combat implicit bias, advocating for personal introspection, engagement with diverse groups, and the use of privilege to foster equity. She introduces the concept of Ubuntu, emphasizing interconnectedness and mutual responsibility. The speaker encourages the audience to be agents of change, promoting a world of equity through conscious efforts to unlearn and challenge their biases.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Implicit Bias
💡Uncomfortable Truths
💡American Dream
💡Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
💡Stereotypes
💡Transformational Activism
💡Ubuntu
💡Self-Awareness
💡Privilege
💡Equity
💡Sarcoidosis
Highlights
The speaker begins with a preface about discussing uncomfortable topics related to implicit bias.
The concept of implicit bias is introduced as attitudes and stereotypes affecting behavior unconsciously.
A personal story is shared about a misdiagnosed husband due to implicit racial bias in the medical field.
The misdiagnosis story highlights the life-threatening consequences of implicit bias in healthcare decisions.
Implicit bias is likened to the Matrix, illustrating its unseen yet pervasive influence on our actions.
A second personal story recounts a fourth-grade student's experience with a teacher's implicit bias affecting her confidence in math.
The story emphasizes how implicit bias can undermine a child's intellectual potential and self-esteem.
The speaker challenges the audience to confront their own implicit biases and question their thoughts and behaviors.
A third story is shared about a ninth-grade student whose aspirations were undermined by a guidance counselor's implicit bias.
The impact of the guidance counselor's bias is discussed, leading to self-doubt and depression in the student.
The speaker emphasizes that implicit bias is not just a personal issue but a societal one with systemic effects.
The speaker shares her own experiences as a wife and a student to illustrate the real-life impact of implicit bias.
The importance of recognizing and addressing implicit bias in educational settings is underscored.
The speaker calls for transformational activism, urging the audience to engage in self-awareness and advocacy for equity.
The concept of Ubuntu is introduced as a philosophy promoting interconnectedness and mutual responsibility.
The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to see themselves in others and to act against bias actively.
Transcripts
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