ABSTRACT
Unlike conscious bias, which results in the prejudicial treatment of or beliefs about individuals or groups of individuals based on faulty perceptions and a refusal to revise our opinions, hidden choices are made instinctively. Unconscious biases permeate society at three fundamental levels—individual, institutional, and societal. Institutional bias surfaces when policies and procedures at academic institutions and in the workplace sustain practices that put women at a disadvantage. Institutional biases can affect men as well, but in many instances these practices disproportionately affect women. Societal bias has to do with ingrained beliefs and assumptions about preferences and abilities (those based on gender in this instance) that govern a society’s norms and help shape its culture. They are systemic in nature and as such can have a powerful influence on behavior. Institutional policies, such as family leave and spousal accommodation, attempt to mitigate some of the issues women face by providing a forum for dialogue, specifically about work-life issues.
