WLA 2018 Report - Draft 1-2

Unconscious bias
are prevalent and
affect both
genders
Unconscious biases are reflexive, social
stereotypes about various groups of people
(Forbes, 2018). These biases, which are usually
unnoticeable, take the form of quick
judgements that happen outside of our control.
Unconscious biases left unchecked can turn
into discrimination.
The Unconscious Bias section of the WLA
survey aimed to identify what stereotypes ALU
students believed to be true of male and
female students. The study contrasted this to
students’ ideas of what it takes to be successful
and thus uncovered how their biases shape
their beliefs of which gender is most likely to
be successful.
“
“In as much as I’d like to say it
[sexism] doesn't exist, there are
times people make statements
that clearly show their biases. it
might not be in a formal setting or
class, it often happens in informal
conversations. You could be
playing in the soccer pitch or
something and you tell somebody
they play like a girl - which speaks
to a bias.
- 3rd Year, Male student
“There is just this warm
compassionate thing about them
[women]. Just like my mum.“
- 3rd Year, Male student
The top three skills rated by students to be most crucial for success are: problem solving, getting
things done and confidence in order of importance. On one hand, male students perceive confidence,
ambition and quantitative skills (in that order) to be most crucial for success. On the other hand,
females perceive planning and organising, supporting others and getting things done (in that order)
as most crucial for success.
100% of students believe that female students are more empathetic than male students. This is an
ubiquitous perception rooted in the stereotype that females ought to be nurturing caregivers while
males ought to be ambitious and career-driven. Biases of this nature have been found to hinder
women’s progress in the workplace tremendously.
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