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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Biased unconscious bias training

5 replies

MedusasBadHairDay · 09/10/2020 12:05

Just had to sit through the most infuriating unconscious bias training, I needed to vent and figured FWR was the best place to find people who understand why I was frustrated.

It started with some optical illusions to prove that our initial assumptions weren't always correct, so far so normal, but I did raise an eyebrow when one of the illusions was a naked woman with body paint.

Then there was a bit about a study where people where asked for words to describe men and women, then asked which qualities they associated with leadership. But it was accompanied by "of course scientifically we know there's feminine and masculine sides of the brain". Aaagh.

Then when he invited questions one of my colleagues (bet you can guess the sex) asked how you can tell which bias is involved as his previous company thought they had a sexism problem as they'd hired barely any women, but did some analysis (which he was involved in because he's a logical maths type) and found it wasn't sexism at all, just classism. There were no women as they didn't hire working class people, and middle class women "obviously" don't work.

The answer wasn't about the intersection between economic class and sex, or about the biased assumption that women weren't interested, or how bias might put women of applying, no it was something about giving your staff personality tests so you know what personality types were missing.

He also got asked for proof that diversity is useful to organisations, and had no stats or examples, so waffled on about right to work in the country.

It felt like such a waste of time, and I got the impression that those coming into it with more bias left with that confirmed rather than any doubts.

OP posts:
VaggieMight · 09/10/2020 13:31

Who delivered the training?

I've experienced similar with internal trainers being asked to deliver training on topics they clearly know little about.

polkadotpjs · 09/10/2020 13:33

I was seething at the inclusion video (Purl I think it was called) and didn't find it good at all. Similar thing- the company showed their bias whilst telling us we are all included!

MedusasBadHairDay · 09/10/2020 14:06

Vaggie- it was an external company who apparently specialise in this training

OP posts:
Imnobody4 · 09/10/2020 15:11

Delivering training seems to have become the latest scam. Its got more in common with PR and marketing than anything else. It seems to be a trainer you need technique, not experience or in depth knowledge.

OhHolyJesus · 09/10/2020 15:23

Can you give some feedback to HR and maybe ask how the external group was selected? If nothing else it may give pause as to using them again or, even further, to consider using external companies at all.

If they are to use external companies the training model could be more interactive and discussion based, as in when the trainer gives an answer, you could have them pointed out the issues you have with their response. The thing is, they might not take the criticism well and use words we have seen before in other 'training'..."trust me" and then insist they are right!

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