NEXT AVENUE - SPECIAL SECTION
Overcoming Unconscious Age Bias: An Expert’s Advice By Richard Eisenberg
Do you think that we all have unintentional bias, or that most people do? I think that most people are at risk of reacting in ways that can be influenced by stereotypes and associations. But I also think that we're all capable of practicing a little bit more introspection and developing more awareness of our own reactions and our own mental processes. Some people talk about ageism as the last 'ism.' We all know that racism is bad, that sexism is bad, but a lot of people haven't come to terms with ageism. Do you think there's some merit to that?
Editor’s Note: Next Avenue editor Richard Eisenberg spoke recently with science and culture journalist Jessica Nordell about her new book “ The End of Bias: A Beginning. ”
Next Avenue: Tell me what unconscious bias is.
I think so. Ageism is one category where in some ways it's still kind of acceptable to be somewhat biased. Culturally, it doesn't evoke the kind of shame and public approbation or renunciation that other kinds of biases do.
Jessica Nordell: We might think of ourselves as treating everyone the same. We believe that the old and young should be treated with respect. We believe men and women should be both given the same benefit of the doubt. We believe people of all races and ethnicities should be evaluated fairly. But then because we have so many stereotypes and associations embedded in our memories, we can react in ways that really violate those deeply held values. And when it's pointed out to people, they often feel very guilty. They feel embarrassed because their behavior is not in line with the kind of image of themselves that they have.
Why?
I could make guesses about the fact that we generally don't have the kind of veneration of elders that we really should— that so many other cultures have. There's so much wisdom that has accumulated and is untapped. And if we really respected our elders and respected that wisdom, I think we would all be a lot better off as a result. Read the full interview at NextAvenue.org.
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