Unconscious Bias - activity

Want to better understand unconscious bias?  Check out "Project implicit" from Harvard.

You can take a test and participate in their study here.

From their "About Us" page:

Project Implicit was founded as a multi-university research collaboration in 1998 by three scientists - Tony Greenwald (University of Washington), Mahzarin Banaji (Harvard University), and Brian Nosek (University of Virginia), and was incorporated as a non-profit in 2001 to foster dissemination and application of implicit social cognition. Project Implicit supports a collaborative network of researchers interested in basic and applied research concerning thoughts and feelings that occur outside of conscious awareness or control. Project Implicit expanded into a substantial web-based infrastructure for supporting behavioral research and education that is available to other laboratories. Finally, Project Implicit provides consulting, education and training services on implicit bias, diversity and inclusion, leadership, applying science to practice, and innovation. (https://www.projectimplicit.net/about.html)

HOMEWORK: Due December 3

Given that Black Friday is just around the corner for this week I am tasking you with an assignment that looks at marketing and advertising.

1) Find a product that is unnecessarily gendered.  (That is, it is either specifically "designed" for a particular gender or advertised to a particular gender.  Think of products that include a "for him" or "for her" label, but you could also look for more subtle indications that a product is "gendered")

2) Bring into class (in a form you can turn in) an advertisement for, or listing on website (Amazon, Target etc) for this product.

3) Write a small summary of how this product is gendered, and argue why the gendering of this product is unnecessary.


Example:

1) Bic Pens For Her
2) (see below) and also see reviews at (http://www.amazon.com/forum//ref=ask_dp_dpmw_al_hza?asin=B004F9QBE6&cdSort=best)
3) This product is gendered as it is specifically labeled as being "for her" rather than for him, or for everyone - or more importantly as not having a gender.  We can further see the way gender is deployed in marketing and designing this product in the colors chosen and the description of the product.  The colors for the product are pastel/light colors and multiple colors.  The use of bright, multiple and pastel colors is associated with femininity in the American Culture.  The description also includes claims such as "Thin barrel to fit a woman's hand" and "Elegant design - just for her!"  These statements evoke the cultural structures that expect women to be elegant, small and delicate.  They presume a biological difference between men and women that extends from purely biological traits (a small amount of sexual dimorphism that could lead to slightly higher rate of small hands among women) to non-biological differences like a preference for color and "elegance" in pens.  Last, this product is unnecessarily gendered in that both men and women could benefit from a smaller pen, and pens work irrespective of color and sizing. The differences in this pen do not need to be associated with the gender of the user. 

For more ideas check out this video by Sara Haskins:

 

Reminder: Default assignment due

Reminder - default assignment due Nov. 19th.  Readings: Padavik & Reskin, IWPR, Aguilar, and Parker Pope

Using Humor to Understand Race

Race is a complicated and touchy subject, particularly in the United States.  Below you will find a series of videos that all deal with the issue of race through the lens of humor.  I encourage you to watch through them and ask yourself:
          Why is this funny?
          Or potentially why do I NOT find this funny?
         Would this humor be different if the identity of the comedian were different?
         What is the point the comedian or show is trying to make?
         Does the use of humor make the point easier or more difficult for you to "hear" as the listener?

         Do these commentaries on race resonate with you? 

Humor and comedy play with existing cultural structures - they highlight or twist values and ideas we share in suprising ways. 

Video 1: Key and Peele, Obama's Anger Translator 

Video 2: Trevor Noah, Live at the Apollo London

Video 3: Aamer Rahman (Fear of A Brown Planet) on "Reverse Racism"

  This is a YouTube "Comedy Week" video Titled "What kind of Asian Are You?" Highlighting the microagressions that people of Asian decent often face in the United States.

Margaret Cho talks about her experiences as an Asian American.

In this Key and Peele skit President Obama teaches Malia to drive and requests that the police officer treat him like anyone else...

Another Key and Peele sketch, this one commenting upon the shooting of Trayvon Martin.




Other videos that I could not embed: 

Gabriel Iglesias Talks about being a "Latino Comedian"
  http://www.cc.com/video-clips/18005l/stand-up-gabriel-iglesias--latino-comedian

Assignment for week 5 (November 5)

Your assignment this week is the "default" assignment.

Complete the following three prompts for each of the readings assigned for November 4th (Cornell-Hartman; Corrise; Kim)

1. One concept or idea from the reading you understand well and could explain to the class.
2. One concept, idea or portion of the reading that you do not understand and would like to have further explained.
3. One discussion question about the reading to prompt discussion among your classmates.