EDUCATION & HUMAN SERVICES

Fear can be based on many things, including:

• instinct (hose = snake);
• not knowing what comes next (often the basis of a good story);
• inexperience or unfamiliarity (brain uses stereotype as an estimate, easier & faster than personal experience).

The less you know about something, the more your brain re-lies on stereotypes.

Stereotypes can make complex issues too simple, ignoring variations. Not all balloons are red. 

Even though it is easier to use stereotypes instead of experience, be curious! 

Educate yourself. When you learn more about other people - you'll find we are all pretty much the same. 

Bias, simply put, is a preference or tendency to respond one way versus another.

Bias consists of

• prejudice (i.e., biased emotional reactions, such as a gut feeling or general like or dislike),
• stereotypes (i.e., biased beliefs about group characteristics), and discrimination (i.e., biased behavior) toward a person or group based merely on their group membership.

Bias can arise from any social category, including gender, race, ethnicity, age, ability status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, weight, attractiveness, socioeconomic status, education, hometown, and any other dimension on which we categorize people.

These categories intersect to create unique experiences of bias that are often compounded for individuals who belong to multiple minoritized groups.

Overall, bias can distort our perceptions of people and inadvertently lead us to make poor decisions, treat people unfairly, and miss opportunities to build positive relationships and collaborations with others.