Racism and Unconscious Bias - Donβt Put Me In A Box | Emer O'Neill | TEDxWexford
TLDREmer O'Neill shares her personal experiences as an Irish-Nigerian woman, addressing the issue of unconscious bias and racism. She discusses the challenges of being judged by her appearance rather than her heritage, the importance of identity, and the need for diversity and representation in society. O'Neill calls for action against racism through education, allyship, and the implementation of anti-racism policies in various institutions.
Takeaways
- π The speaker, Emer O'Neill, experiences confusion and bias due to her Irish name and African descendant background, highlighting the issue of unconscious bias.
- π₯ Emer discovered her Sickle Cell trait only after moving to America for college, emphasizing the lack of awareness and testing for conditions prevalent in non-white populations in predominantly white countries like Ireland.
- π€° During her pregnancy, Emer faced a doctor's prejudiced assumption that she couldn't have Sickle Cell because of her appearance, showcasing the real-life impact of racial profiling.
- π’ The speaker's friend from Zimbabwe had to change her name to a more 'Irish' one to get job interviews, illustrating the systemic discrimination in employment.
- π Emer advocates for 'blind screening' in the workplace to reduce bias, where CVs are reviewed without personal identifiers like name or photo.
- π§ Emer is proud of her dual Irish and Nigerian heritage but has faced challenges in having her identity acknowledged, especially when it doesn't fit racial stereotypes.
- π¨βπ§βπ¦ Emer fears for her son's future as he may already be experiencing the stripping of his Irish identity due to his darker skin, indicating intergenerational concerns about racial bias.
- π The lack of diversity in Irish institutions, including media, police, government, and education, is critiqued as a societal issue that needs addressing.
- π Emer's personal journey of self-acceptance and embracing her heritage took years, underlining the psychological impact of racial bias on individuals.
- π£οΈ The speaker calls for active allyship, education, and the implementation of anti-racism policies in all areas of society to combat systemic racism.
- π Emer's use of social media as a platform to share her story and advocate for change demonstrates the power of individual voices in raising awareness and prompting action against racism.
Q & A
What is the main theme of Emer O'Neill's speech?
-The main theme of Emer O'Neill's speech is the issue of unconscious bias, racism, and the importance of recognizing and embracing diversity in society.
How does Emer O'Neill describe her experience with Sickle Cell in Ireland?
-Emer O'Neill describes her experience with Sickle Cell in Ireland as one of ignorance due to the lack of testing for it in a predominantly white country. She only discovered she had the trait when she went to America for college.
What incident during Emer's pregnancy led to the doctor's office visit and the ensuing conversation about Sickle Cell?
-Emer was having some issues during her pregnancy, which led the doctors to suggest a blood test to see what was going on, mainly due to her having Sickle Cell, which they thought might be correlated with her issues.
What was the doctor's initial reaction when he thought Emer O'Neill was being tested for Sickle Cell?
-The doctor was irate and questioned why they were wasting time doing a Sickle Cell test on someone he assumed to be white Irish, based on her name, Emer O'Neal.
How does Emer O'Neill feel about being categorized and profiled based on her name and appearance?
-Emer O'Neill feels that being categorized and profiled based on her name and appearance is a form of unconscious bias that strips her of her identity and is a reflection of societal stereotypes.
What is 'blind screening' and how does it relate to diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
-Blind screening is a process where a candidate's CV does not reveal their picture, gender, or ethnicity, allowing for selection based on qualifications alone. It is related to diversity and inclusion as it helps to prevent unconscious bias in hiring.
Why did Emer O'Neill's friend from Zimbabwe decide to change her name to a more Irish-sounding one when applying for jobs?
-Emer O'Neill's friend from Zimbabwe changed her name to a more Irish-sounding one to see if she would get more callbacks for job interviews, as she was not receiving any responses with her original name.
How did the change in name affect the friend's job application process?
-The change in name led to her receiving more phone calls for job interviews, indicating that the more Irish-sounding name reduced the unconscious bias against her original Zimbabwean identity.
What is Emer O'Neill's stance on the importance of having anti-racism policies in schools and workplaces?
-Emer O'Neill strongly believes in the importance of having anti-racism policies in schools and workplaces as they help people understand what racism is, how to identify it, and how to deal with it appropriately.
How does Emer O'Neill's personal experience with racism and discrimination influence her activism and advocacy for change?
-Emer O'Neill's personal experiences with racism and discrimination fuel her activism and advocacy for change, as she uses her voice to raise awareness, educate others, and promote policies that combat racism.
What does Emer O'Neill suggest as a way to start addressing racism and unconscious bias from a young age?
-Emer O'Neill suggests exposing children to diverse cultures, foods, languages, and people from a young age, ensuring that their environment is diverse, and incorporating diverse reading materials and media.
How does Emer O'Neill's family's diverse background influence her views on identity and belonging?
-Emer O'Neill's family's diverse background, with Irish and Nigerian heritage, influences her views on identity and belonging by emphasizing the importance of recognizing and celebrating one's heritage and not being limited by societal stereotypes.
Outlines
π Unconscious Bias and Identity Struggles
Emer O'Neill discusses her experience with unconscious bias and the assumptions people make based on her name and appearance. She has Sickle Cell trait, a condition more common in individuals of African descent, which was a surprise to her and others due to her Irish background. A doctor's dismissive attitude towards testing her for Sickle Cell because of her Irish name highlights the issue of profiling and categorizing people. Emer emphasizes the universality of unconscious bias and the need to challenge these preconceived notions.
ποΈ The Impact of Identity on Opportunities
Emer shares her friend's story of changing her name to appear more Irish to improve her job prospects, illustrating the real-world impact of unconscious bias on opportunities. She advocates for blind screening in the workplace to reduce discrimination. Emer proudly identifies as both Irish and Nigerian, challenging the assumption that Irishness is tied to whiteness. She discusses the importance of identity and the hurtful experience of having her Irish identity questioned or denied.
π Embracing Dual Heritage and Fighting Stereotypes
Emer recounts her journey of embracing her dual Irish and Nigerian heritage. She talks about the stereotypes she faced growing up and how they influenced her to hide her Nigerian roots. Now, she actively works to challenge these stereotypes, both as a teacher and an activist. She emphasizes the importance of representation in media and institutions, and the need to educate oneself to be an effective ally against racism.
π¨βπ§βπ¦ Navigating Racism as a Mixed-Race Family
Emer shares personal anecdotes of racism her family has faced, including an incident where her son was questioned about his skin color. She discusses the importance of talking about racism with children and the need for early education on diversity. Emer calls for individuals to use their voices to advocate for change and to support those who are experiencing racism.
π Creating an Anti-Racism Policy for Schools
Emer, a teacher of 13 years, discusses the importance of having an anti-racism policy in educational institutions. She shares her experience of co-authoring an anti-racism policy for schools and the necessity of such policies in fostering understanding and providing guidelines for dealing with racism. She stresses the role of individuals in advocating for these policies and the importance of living the values taught in anti-racism workshops.
π The Power of Representation and Allyship
Emer emphasizes the power of representation and allyship in combating racism. She talks about her children, one with white appearance and one with black, and how they will likely experience life differently due to societal biases. She encourages the audience to use their influence, whether through social media or everyday actions, to support minority groups and to create an inclusive society.
π€ Collective Action for a Racism-Free Future
In her concluding remarks, Emer expresses hope for a future where racism is a thing of the past, laughable in its absurdity. She thanks the audience for listening and implores them to take action, no matter how small, to contribute to this change. She acknowledges the support she has received from the people of Ireland and calls for continued collective effort to eradicate racism.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Sickle Cell
π‘Unconscious Bias
π‘Diversity and Inclusion
π‘Identity
π‘Racism
π‘Representation
π‘Allyship
π‘Blind Screening
π‘Cultural Appropriation
Highlights
Emer O'Neill discusses the common misconception that she is traditionally Irish due to her name, despite having Sickle Cell trait which is predominant in African descendants.
O'Neill was unaware of her Sickle Cell trait for 18 years, highlighting the lack of testing in predominantly white countries like Ireland.
She experienced a doctor's unconscious bias when her Irish name was assumed to not be associated with Sickle Cell, challenging her Irish identity.
O'Neill's friend from Zimbabwe changed her name to a more Irish-sounding one to increase her chances of getting job interviews, illustrating the impact of names on employment opportunities.
The concept of 'blind screening' in job applications is introduced as a method to reduce bias based on personal information.
O'Neill emphasizes the importance of identity and the pain of having one's identity questioned or stripped away due to assumptions based on appearance.
She shares personal stories of racism and the impact on her family, including her children, and the importance of educating children about racism from a young age.
O'Neill calls for the implementation of anti-racism policies in all workplaces and schools, as they are currently not mandated.
The need for diversity and representation in media, government, and education is stressed, as lack of representation affects self-perception and opportunities.
O'Neill's journey to self-love and acceptance of her heritage is shared, including overcoming societal pressures and embracing her mixed-race identity.
She discusses the importance of allyship and the need for individuals to educate themselves to effectively support and advocate for change.
O'Neill's experience as a teacher and the lack of resources and training for addressing racism in schools is highlighted, emphasizing the need for systemic change.
The power of social media as a platform for activism and raising awareness about racism and discrimination is acknowledged.
O'Neill shares her vision for a future where racism is a thing of the past, learned about in schools as a historical issue, and the role each person can play in making this a reality.
The importance of using one's voice, no matter how small it may seem, to support and uplift marginalized communities is emphasized.
A call to action for the audience to reflect on their own unconscious biases, educate themselves, and actively work towards creating an inclusive society.
Transcripts
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