Steps to Mitigating Gender Bias

For the sake of this “how to” we will focus on one example of gender bias surfacing in college. Though these steps will provide specifics for this example, I encourage you to use them in any situation in which gender biases are suggested. 

But, let’s use a school-specific example: 

You’re in a classroom, and you're one of few women in the room. Your male professor frequently calls on the same male student and rarely reacts to the comments you work hard to craft. Every time you step into this classroom, you feel nervous and excluded, dreading an environment that should spark your interest—not one that makes you feel like you don’t belong.

There is a chance that the classroom is highly infiltrated by gender bias. This chance may be reinforced if you notice the silencing or visible lack of interest towards female voices. You may even notice subtly sexist comments mixed into the conversation.

If you suspect this, there are several ways you and others can work to make the space more inclusive.

Here is what you can do:

1. Speak with the professor

   1. Yes this seems like a ballsy step. WTF are you supposed to say to the professor to get them to like you or at least call on you. Let’s go in with the assumption that people want to do better. So, go to office hours and ask the professor what is going on. Voice how you are feeling.

2. If Step 1 doesn’t seem to work, contact administration, deans, or campus resources

   1. You deserve the best education you can get. In every damn class. If the professor doesn’t seem receptive, know that there is someone on that campus that will support you. Go beyond the professor and voice your concerns. 

3. Address the microaggressions

   1. The most annoying thing about being the victim of sexist comments is that you feel like if you don’t speak up, no one will. Chances are, in a classroom, you may not want to speak up and draw attention to the issue or even to yourself. This situation is freaking hard. So, if you notice gender-biased comments, remarks, or jokes in any setting, you have to call them out, especially when they’re not directed towards you. Do not let the victim be responsible for calling out sexism. Be an ally.

   2. Ways to call out sexist comments that are rooted in biases:

      1. Make a joke—sarcasm goes a long way

         1. People tend to get that there was truth at the root of a joke.

      2. Repeat what was said but from your perspective 

         1. “Hey, you just said X. I don’t think you meant it like this but it made me feel X. 

      3. Address it head on. 

         1. “What you just said was not okay.” 

         2. Know why you feel offended. Be ready to explain your side of the story. 

4. Talk to your friends about what went wrong. What upset you? Why was it discriminatory? 

   1. Understanding what was wrong about a situation is critical to helping prevent similar situations in the future. 

5. Ask your friends how they would handle it. 

   1. As women, it is critical to create a collaborative environment. Ask one another for advice, and support each other. 

These steps aren’t the “end all be all” to mitigating gender bias. There is no hard and fast solution to a problem as pervasive as this one. However, practicing these steps on a daily basis will help eliminate small injustices in your regular life.