I have always prided myself on not being biased in regard to sex or race, but today I discovered that I have been biased in ways that I never knew. I will share more later, but there is a concept called categorization theory. In short, categorization theory is a way that helps us to organize and process things. In essence, our brain throws similar things into categories and then processes them. Its like carrying a bunch of separate papers in a folder. It makes things easier.
Anyways, categorization theory can also apply to things like evaluating people. You tend to build these categories based on experience. When dealing with people we tend to build prototypes by which we evaluate others to sort them into categories. An example would be that if you had a sweet little grandma, you might tend to assume that all little old ladies are just as sweet. We all know that isn't necessarily true, but our brains do it anyways.
I share all of this to say that when it comes to leaders we all build prototypes as well, and we use that prototype to evaluate leaders and potential leaders. The catch in all of this is that for many of us when we think of leaders we tend to think of current leaders who happen to be predominantly white males, or historical leaders who also happen to be predominantly white males (I see you Abraham Lincoln and George Washington). So our brains build this prototype of a good leader based on characteristics of these white males.
What happens then? We evaluate everyone against that prototype and when it comes to women and minorities, well... they often get the short end of the stick. Its an unconscious bias, but a bias nonetheless. Very eye opening and convicting.
For some, that might be the most boring post yet. Don't say I didn't warn you! I also started my post saying I wasn't able to write long. I guess I lied.
I share all of this to say that when it comes to leaders we all build prototypes as well, and we use that prototype to evaluate leaders and potential leaders. The catch in all of this is that for many of us when we think of leaders we tend to think of current leaders who happen to be predominantly white males, or historical leaders who also happen to be predominantly white males (I see you Abraham Lincoln and George Washington). So our brains build this prototype of a good leader based on characteristics of these white males.
What happens then? We evaluate everyone against that prototype and when it comes to women and minorities, well... they often get the short end of the stick. Its an unconscious bias, but a bias nonetheless. Very eye opening and convicting.
For some, that might be the most boring post yet. Don't say I didn't warn you! I also started my post saying I wasn't able to write long. I guess I lied.
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