Bias Interrupted: Creating Inclusion for Real and For Good by Joan C. Williams. Joan is professor and director of the Center for WorkLife Law at the University of California College of Law. This book is addressing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) within large organizations. Previously Joan wrote What Works for Women at Work.
So, when does $8 million not move the needle? When companies use the wrong tools to solve a business problem. This is the outline of Bias Interrupted. Joan’s message that organizations have been using the wrong tool trying to address DEI.
In addition, Joan delivers a solid breakdown via evidence-based data (over twenty years) to the origins of organizational bias. This includes both descriptions and examples of common biases along with actionable outcomes to change culture.
Joan is certainly focusing this book on large organizations. In addition, it would be fair to say the book is for supervisors, managers and senior leadership.
I felt this book is indeed a great read. Some may consider this to be short and more of an overview. However, there are practical solutions included. This may be best for busy leaders today.
On the surface too many organizations may believe their cultural bias cannot change. Worse, they are also terribly mis informed that a half day workshop is the instant cure-all. However, Joan provides an educational overview to organizational leaders to indeed discover how their tuned efforts can establish a better workplace.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Joan is certainly realistic based upon the years of data that provides insights that organization cannot solve their DEI shortcomings in a single attempt. In fact, a successful approach is to aim for change in small steps. These are the “bias interrupters” which are metrics-driven tools. Joan does address “the diversity industrial complex” that provides DEI training and consulting to companies.
Mom in the workplace
Accordingly, Chapter 8: Women’s priorities change after having kids. Are you saying I should ignore that? is for example the best chapter in the book and a must read for every organization. Joan is dead accurate in her research and outcomes:
The fact that some mothers cut back on work after they have children does not justify discriminating against them, or against the women who don’t….Our survey research finds that only about half of women, but around 80 percent of men, report that having children didn’t cause colleagues to question their competence and commitment. Women of color report maternal wall bias at nearly the same level as white women.
pgs. 147-148.
This is certainly not new. Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez offers added insights. The only difference is Caroline’s focus is outside the US.
Training for bias?
The closing chapters of Bias Interrupted provides a guide to address organizational bias and again is written for supervisors, managers and senior leadership. In conclusion, Bias Interrupted is very relevant today. I really enjoyed Joan’s data-driven outcomes and now hold a greater understanding of DEI issues.