Recently I used the Implicit Association Test (IAT), a tool designed to reveal implicit biases that may not be obvious, to better understand my subconscious attitudes. I chose to take the Sexuality IAT and my results suggested a moderate automatic preference for Gay people over Straight people. This revelation sparked my introspection into the nature of implicit bias and its potential impact on various aspects of life, like selection processes.
Implicit bias, as discussed in the articles “How to Think about ‘Implicit Bias’” and “20 LGBTQ+ Organizations You Can Support Right Now,” operates beneath the surface of conscious awareness and can influence our thoughts and behaviors in subtle but significant ways. Despite best intentions, these biases can seep into decision-making processes and potentially compromise their reliability and validity. Implicit biases in selection processes could lead to the favoritism of certain groups over others and undermine the equality we aspire towards.
To counteract the influence of implicit bias in selection processes, it is important to be aware and use proactive measures. Drawing from the insights found in”20 LGBTQ+ Organizations You Can Support Right Now,” which emphasizes the prevalence of implicit bias in real-world discrimination, and “How to Think about ‘Implicit Bias’”, which advocates for supporting LGBTQ+ rights through various means, I am compelled to take action. One step I could take is to implement blind recruitment practices to conceal identifying information such as names, genders, or sexual orientations during initial screenings. Blind recruitment minimizes the potential for implicit biases to sway decision-making through only obtaining merit information.
Ongoing education and training on DEI initiatives can foster a culture of awareness and empower individuals to challenge their biases. Through embracing proactive measures everyone can strive towards more equitable and inclusive selection processes and help to create a more just society.
Sources:
(Payne, Scientific American, 2018)
(Holdefehr, Real Simple, 2023)
