Erasing Institutional Bias

Gender, racial and other biases poison organizations and society at large.

Whether subtle or overt, conscious or unconscious, bias pervades individuals, organizations and institutions. Systemic or institutional bias exists when some groups hold advantage over others within a certain power structure. From slavery and Jim Crow laws to the Electoral College – which was designed to stop average US citizens from choosing the president through popular vote – bias surrounds you and affects everyone. Recently, more people than ever, including the historically privileged, have come together to fight bias. There can be no better time for action.

Combat bias by acknowledging it and doing something about it. This means identifying your own biases, as well as those that exist within your organization and society. Moreover, you must recognize and own your past role in supporting these biases. Ingrained, systemic bias, in particular, doesn’t loosen its grip easily; you can’t remove it alone. Once you identify and expose systemic bias, organize others to help you eliminate...