Biased attitudes and behavior - unfair feelings based on prejudice - can cause communication barriers between people. Three approaches for reducing these barriers include awareness, intervention, and prevention.
Awareness: Recognizing our own biases, the biases of others, and the negative effects of bias upon everyone.
Intervention: Learning ways to respond to bias constructively when it occurs.
Prevention: Getting involved in activities that affirm our own identity and show respect for the identity of others.
Words to Know
Biased behavior: treating people unfairly because of their identity.
Culture: the way of living that make a group of people distinctive.
Ethnic group: a group of people who share a common heritage, language, or traditions.
Gender: male or female
Identity: the things that help make people who they are, such as age, gender, physical appearance, culture, race, language, and beliefs.
National origin: the country of one's birth or ancestry.
Prejudice: an opinion about individuals or group based on false or limited information; a perception that a person or a group is inferior or superior because of their identity.
Ignite: excite; set fire to.
Portray: make a picture of.
Race: a group of people with distinctive physical characteristics that are genetically inherited from one generation to the next.
Stereotype: a fixed belief about how all people who belong to a group will look or act.
Tolerance: the ability to recognize and respect the beliefs and practices of other.
Constructive Responses to Bias
If you think you or others are being treated unfairly because of your identity-age, gender, race, beliefs, abilities, etc. - it is important to handle the situation in a way that invites positive, constructive communication about bias without igniting emotions into harmful or violent confrontations. Below are some constructive ways to deal with the biased attitudes or behaviors you could face.
Speak in a firm, calm, respectful voice. Say what you think is unfair and untrue. Say why you think this is true. Say how you would like things to change. Identify and address your own biases. Speak up for the person receiving unfair treatment. Ask the offender to work with you to prevent biased behavior. Offer comfort to the recipient of bias. Speak with a person in authority or an ally who will support and reinforce a change in behavior. Walk away after you've had your say and have listened to the constructive responses of others (including the offender).
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