Unraveling Bias: How Prejudice Has Shaped Children for Generations and Why It’s Time to Break the Cycle by Christia Spears, professor of developmental psychology at the University of Kentucky. In addition, her work on the impact of gender stereotypes on children and adolescents has been published widely including a blogging post for Psychology Today called Beyond Pink and Blue.
Christia provides insights to the ‘how and why’ biases are developed and specifically at what age levels deeper, rigid perceptions are established. Of course, it is important to understand how this exposure to bias will impact diversity.
One of the impactful areas for childhood development involves how children internalize non-verbal cues. At this junction, the non-verbal cues will reveal bias even when a conversation regarding a type of bias is not communicated.
In addition, these children ultimately see adults around them (family, a parent’s co-worker, or adult social relationships) and learn how to react.
In addition, perhaps to no surprise, Unraveling Bias reveals how children impacted by bias, specially discrimination will score lower on tests and have higher dropout rates.
Students also battle depression, low self esteem, higher drug use, and even higher thoughts of suicide. This will certainly increase additional health issues as they grow up.
How it started – How its going
In 1849 Roberts v. City of Boston ruled that racially segregated schools were indeed legal. So, there should be no doubt as the the source and impact of bias among children beginning at an early age:
First, we have to move past assumptions that well-meaning adults don’t unintentionally pass along biases to children and that children are exempt from biases simply because they are young. Second, we have to accept that bias is pervasive and harmful, and reducing bias is everyone’s responsibility.
pgs. 55-56.
Certainly, historical legal decisions have impacted the role of bias across the US education system. These decisions have been driving bias far and wide across society prior to Brown v. Board of Education:
1884: Tape v. Hurley rules it unlawful to ban Mamie Tape from a White school due to her Chinese ancestry. The California legislature quickly passes laws mandating separate schools for “Mongolians.”
1896: Plessy v. Ferguson case in the US Supreme Court rules, citing Roberts, that racially segregated schools are lawful.
1947: Mendez v. Westminster School District of Orange County, California rules that segregation of Mexican American students is unconstitutional.
1951: Social science research is used in Briggs v. Elliott to argue that segregated schools psychologically harm children.
1951: In Bolling v. Sharpe, NAACP attorneys argue that segregated schools violate the Fourteenth Amendment, but lose the case because of Plessy precedent.
However, Brown v. Board of Education obviously did not stop bias in children. Christia is certainly addressing how this research can deliver insights to protect children from biases. Joan C. Williams is addressing this in her book Bias Interrupted.
Training and Education resources to address bias
New research indicates the source of bias in children, and how this bias is shaping or influencing their behaviors, relationships both inside the home and outside, and also how bias impacts their own individual beliefs.
In conclusion, Unraveling Bias is providing key insights that are critical in becoming aware of bias, and through education can ensure children are not impacted.