Hi, Leigh - fascinating article:)

This one caught my eye because several of the classes I teach involve creating an understanding of bias and the effects on our behavior.  As others have noted, your examples go beyond the usual ones and I appreciate the stimulation to my thinking which has resulted from your writing.

Mike Henry raises a valid point which in my mind speaks to the difference between a bias and an evaluation.  Bias most often occurs in the sociological sense when someone holds a position about something or someone without a valid reason to hold that belief.

The idea that younger employees are less dependable comes to mind here.  While some young employees are definitely not dependable, others are and many are "sort of".    We do all a disservice when we hold that view and apply it to all.

On the other hand, when we have explicit knowledge about an individual (note I am not saying "group" here) that leads us to consider their abilities or values.   The employee who has a pattern of tardiness or calling in "sick" may be viewed as undependable, but no bias exists here ...

... unless your biases make you judge certain others more harshly.  For example, tThe young employee who looks and sounds like someone from your neighborhood is given the benefit of the doubt, while the young employee from somewhere else is not.  This is the basic outline of white privilege and other related issues being discussed elsewhere.   I appreciate Mike's comments in this direction.

Again, nice post, Leigh ... you got me thinking:)

John