Some talking points for an interview on
women on gender bias in the workplace:
- As one of the San Francisco Bay Area first female firefighters and now a woman in a still largely male dominated legal field, I regularly experience gender bias. In fact, we all do and some of it cannot be helped.
- Biases come in two forms extrinsic and intrinsic. Intrinsic biases happen “under the hood” or unconsciously. They are our brains way of filtering information that is ancestral in nature—is someone a friend or is someone a potential threat, for instance. Extrinsic biases are consciously driven in that we choose to have them. For instance, I choose not to hire a woman.
- When addressing the occurrence of a bias it is helpful to consider whether we think it is intrinsic or extrinsic. If it is intrinsic, a simply statement bringing attention to the matter can be all that is needed. Extrinsic bias requires more savvy. This bias needs comments that are both direct while respectful.
- Exploratory questions can be very helpful. For instance, when I was a new firefighter, men (and their wives) would often ask me if I was capable of being a firefighter. Instead of getting defensive, I would make an observing statement such as, “Just from the framing of your question, I sense you have some reservations about my capabilities.” I would then follow up with a question, “Can you help me understand what you are really asking or are concerned about?” Sometimes it would be as basic as, “If I were trapped in a burning building, could you get me out?” I would reply, “If by getting you out, you mean carry you for long distances, probably not. However when in a burning building, low is the way to go and I could certainly drag you out with no problem.” I would then follow up with another question, “Do you have any other concerns?”
- The key is to not be defensive and to be exploratory. A log of magic is in the dialog and approach.
Available for Interviews: Carol Barkes
Carol Barkes, CPM, is a trend-setting mediator, business executive and educator specializing in the use of neuroscience to improve business performance, interpersonal communications, negotiation and conflict resolution processes for optimally successful results. She is also a speaker, educator, and author of the bestselling book: Success Breakthroughs.
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