Modern Discrimination: Subtle but Significant: Mikki Hebl at TEDxRiceU

Summary

The speaker shares her journey to becoming a feminist, highlighting her experiences at Smith College and Texas A&M. She discusses gender issues and discrimination, emphasizing the difference between formal and interpersonal discrimination. Through research, she reveals the subtle yet significant impact of interpersonal discrimination on various groups, including those based on sexual orientation, weight, and pregnancy. She concludes by encouraging the audience to actively combat discrimination through individual actions, organizational policies, and legal support.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The speaker's journey to becoming a feminist began at Smith College, an all-women's college focused on egalitarianism and gender issues.
• 🤔 The speaker explores the subtleties of gender discrimination, questioning whether formal discrimination laws have truly eliminated bias.
• 🧐 Interpersonal discrimination is a focus of the speaker's research, examining behaviors like fake smiles and reduced interaction time as indicators of bias.
• 🎩 A study involving students applying for jobs while wearing hats signaling different identities ('Texan and proud' vs 'Gay and proud') revealed minimal formal discrimination but significant interpersonal discrimination.
• 🏢 The study showed that despite legal protections against sexual orientation discrimination, interpersonal discrimination was still prevalent in social interactions.
• 📈 The impact of interpersonal discrimination can be more significant than formal discrimination, as it consumes cognitive resources and affects performance.
• 💌 Letters of recommendation for women versus men demonstrated how subtle language choices can reinforce gender stereotypes and affect opportunities.
• 👥 The speaker encourages individuals to take an active role in reducing interpersonal discrimination, whether as a target, ally, or organization member.
• 🙋‍♀️ As a target of discrimination, strategies like individuating oneself from stereotypes can help mitigate the effects of interpersonal discrimination.
• 👥 Allies can play a crucial role in reducing discrimination by confronting and condemning biased behaviors, setting the cultural norms within organizations.
• 🏛 The importance of legal action is highlighted, with the speaker suggesting that laws can help reduce interpersonal discrimination, similar to how sexual harassment laws have been effective.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the speaker's talk?

The main theme of the speaker's talk is the existence and impact of interpersonal discrimination, its subtle forms, and ways to combat it.

Why did the speaker decide to attend Smith College?

The speaker decided to attend Smith College because it is an all-women's college that focuses on principles of egalitarianism and gender issues.

What was the speaker's first experience with gender issues at Texas A&M?

The speaker's first experience with gender issues at Texas A&M was when her research assistant, Wilson, locked the car doors to protect her while he went to pay for gas, highlighting the gender differences and issues that still exist.

What is the difference between formal discrimination and interpersonal discrimination as discussed in the talk?

Formal discrimination refers to illegal behaviors such as not hiring someone based on their membership in a protected group, while interpersonal discrimination involves subtler, everyday behaviors like incivility, rudeness, or lack of eye contact that can be just as harmful.

How did the speaker's research measure discrimination in job applications?

The speaker's research measured discrimination by sending students into stores to apply for jobs wearing hats that either said 'Texan and proud' or 'gay and proud', and then observing and recording the interactions and call-backs.

What did the speaker find in her study regarding formal discrimination in job applications?

In the speaker's study, there was an absence of formal discrimination as measured by job application processes, with people being allowed to complete applications and receive call-backs.

How did the speaker's research on interpersonal discrimination in job applications reveal itself?

Interpersonal discrimination was revealed through shorter interaction times, fewer words spoken, more hostility, and less eye contact when the students were wearing the 'gay and proud' hats compared to the 'Texan and proud' hats.

What is the impact of subtle interpersonal discrimination as mentioned in the talk?

Subtle interpersonal discrimination can lead to significant negative impacts, such as reduced performance and cognitive load, as individuals question whether the discrimination is about them personally or due to their group membership.

What strategies did the speaker suggest for individuals to combat interpersonal discrimination?

The speaker suggested strategies such as individuating oneself from stereotypes, acknowledging one's own stigma, and allies standing up, confronting, condemning discrimination, and promoting safe spaces and zero-tolerance policies.

How does the speaker propose to address the issue of interpersonal discrimination at a legal level?

The speaker proposes encouraging and supporting legal action to protect groups that do not have basic protections, and considering laws similar to those against sexual harassment to address interpersonal discrimination.