I recently attended
unconscious bias training at work. This training
aims to help you to become aware of your own internal biases for or against any
group and understand how this may affect the way you treat others at work. The training was for managers, particularly those
that recruit staff. I attended because I
advise on equalities issues for my organisation and I wanted to see how
beneficial the training would be. I also
love the conversations and stories that sometimes arise in this kind of
situation.
The training turned out
to be not quite what I expected and felt like a bit of a missed opportunity in
developing the thinking of some of the attendees. Lots of PowerPoint slides and information on
equalities legislation and not enough detail on what unconscious bias is and
how we can recognise and mitigate against out own. There were a few mistakes about Islam when
religious custom was discussed, which set me off and I corrected the trainer a
few times. I don’t think this endeared
me to anyone, especially the trainer, but I couldn’t help myself. Worse of all the trainers own unconscious
bias was showing – big time. We all have
these biases, but I am of the mind that if you are a trainer, then you should
be a bit more aware of your own.
It got me thinking about
my own unconscious bias and the eye-opening, mind expanding moment in my life
that laid my own prejudices bare. This
was during hajj with my husband twelve years ago. In the convergence of Muslims from every
corner of the earth I was exposed to the incorrect stereotypes that lay buried
at the back of my mind: rich, regal Nigerian women with their broderie anglaise
shawls, dripping with gold jewellery, tall Chinese Muslims in their long Mao
coats, the smiling sweet-natured old Senegalese ladies, the Kurdish ladies with
pretty tattoos on their faces, white Muslims from Bosnia. I remember hearing an American accent while
doing tawaf (circling the Kaaba) and doing a double take when I found an African
American family following us around – it seemed strange because it was an accent
I had only ever heard on TV and didn’t expect to hear it in the Haramain
(sacred place).
On reflection I didn’t
think I was a racist, but these stereotypes were ones I had internalised without
even realising. Hajj brought them out in
the open where they were exposed to examination and ultimately rejection. This is one of the things I love about my
faith: the rejection of racism and prejudice and the acceptance of all those
that look so different to you as inherently valuable. I am more than aware that many (most?) Muslims are not bale to live up to this ideal, but it is certainly something I aspire to insh'Allah.
“O mankind, indeed We
have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you
may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is
the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted” ~ Quran
49:13
“O people, your Lord is
one and your father Adam is one. There is no favour of an Arab over a
foreigner, nor a foreigner over an Arab, and neither white skin over black
skin, nor black skin over white skin, except by righteousness.” ~ Musnad Aḥmad
(22978)
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