Unconscious Bias, Stereotypes & Discrimination

In spite of over 40 years of civil rights law, inequality continues based on sex, race, disability, and other protected classes, as it relates to levels of education, poverty and success. Unconscious bias, sometimes called implicit bias, influences the inequalities. Stereotypes, which operate unconsciously, are at the heart of our unconscious biases. Even those of us who swear we are not biased have unconscious bias. To add to the problem, people are resistant to accepting behavior that is inconsistent with their stereotypes, while accepting behavior that is consistent with stereotypes. Unconscious biases play havoc with discrimination in the workplace including hiring and promotion practices. Courts have recognized the existence of unconscious discrimination since the earliest Title VII decisions and have specifically stated that Title VII reaches this form of discrimination.

Learning Objectives

• To define unconscious bias and its role in discrimination
• To explore the role of stereotypes in unconscious bias
• To discuss implicit association test (IAT)
• To identify steps in minimizing unconscious bias

Who should Attend?

• HR
• Management
• Any Employee