Bias and Intersectionality
As we all know that bias means to influence or prefer one’s judgement or decision of a
person that deviate from objective. It can also manifest a preconceived notion and also inclined
towards or against a particular person, group or situation as well. So, biasness can be conscious
or unconscious but it is shaped by various factors such as cultural background, societal
influences or sometime media portrayal as well. But the main thing is that bias effects diversity
as well, it can have a significant impact on an individual's thinking and attitudes. Bias can lead to
stereotyping, discrimination, and unfair treatment of people based on their characteristics such as
race, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or disability. It can result in excluding individuals
from opportunities, denying them equal rights, or perpetuating systemic inequalities. Individuals
affected by bias may develop skewed perceptions and judgments about diverse groups. For
example, if someone holds a biased belief that a particular racial or ethnic group is inherently
inferior, they may disregard their achievements or abilities, leading to discrimination and
exclusion. Similarly, biases related to gender or sexual orientation can result in marginalization
and hinder the progress towards creating inclusive environments. Biasness has always given me
a little uneasy because the just is to select the fair trial, but biasness says otherwise. So, I think
there should be no biasness in case of justice. But on any specific point of view, I think being
bias is the best choice one could have.
After that I think intersectionality is the new dynamics for the biasness. By considering
intersectionality, people or even me can understand that biases and discrimination are not
isolated to a single aspect of identity but can overlap and compound. This awareness helped me
recognize that my own biases or societal biases may affect me differently based on my
intersecting identities. For example, If I used to hold biases against a woman, but by considering
intersectionality, I started to comprehend that women from different racial or ethnic backgrounds
may face additional forms of discrimination due to racism. This understanding allowed me to
develop a deeper awareness of the unique challenges faced by that woman with multiple
marginalized identities and how biases can intersect and magnify the impact on her. So I think its
impact decides the outcome.
References
Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A Black feminist
critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory, and antiracist politics. University of
Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139-167.
