Today is International Womans Day 2022, the theme this year is Breaking the Bias.

This is a day to celebrate the amazing and courageous ladies in the world, however I can’t help but feel frustrated this year when I reflect on the theme  #breakthebias, how do we break it without getting to the root cause? 

There are so many types of bias, deliberate (albeit I would suggest this is highly condemned these days), the good old default of unconscious bias (which by the way is only a real thing until you either develop self awareness or you are made aware…it’s not a free pass). Let’s be honest too, we can all be responsible as in an ironic twist being bias doesn’t discriminate (yep ladies, we can do it too), and the one I have had to unteach myself is the self perpetuating bias (basically ladies we act out the bias and it is reinforced).  But, the bias that upsets me the most, perhaps because my son is 9 and I’m seeing how my parental behaviors are shaping him, is indoctrinated generation bias.  

It breaks my heart that still today, despite everything that’s been done, there still comes a moment in every young girls life, when she suddenly realises she is not being treated equally, and from that moment on it is now her responsibility to join the rest of us in trying to improve it for the next generation.   I am actually paraphrasing from the last few minutes of the recent Spice Girls documentary that focused on the role of Girl Power to liberate a generation (highly recommend the watch but be prepared to be angry and sad).   Now bear in mind, this was in the 90s and early 2000’s yet here we are, still forging a path for equality, diversity and a world without gender bias.   

We need a new elimination strategy for the team of 5 million…#breakthebias

I believe we must protect young girls from this moment, empowering them is a great way to do this. I admire the wonderful initiatives like GirlBoss and so many brilliant leadership programs available.   But where we need to move the needle is by actively role modelling behaviours for all genders that stop the bias from emerging in the first place (consider it an elimination strategy of sorts 😉).  Imagine a future where we get ‘the look’ from our kids when we try explain the old days of gender inequality, just like trying to explain a VHS today.

The onus is on us as parents, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and anyone influencing the lives of our youth to change the narrative, call out others using words and behaviours ( whether unintentional or not) that instill these biases, and not feel afraid to be bold and determined to make generational change.

Break the bias by making generational change

Check out this video – it’s an oldie, from 2014 actually and sadly the message still resonates today.   This demonstrates not just the generational bias itself but the self perpetuation of bias as we grow up. 

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