Chapter 8

Implicit Bias and the Workplace

Abstract

Underlying many struggles women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics endure is the issue of implicit bias. Fostering a better scientific workplace and implementing successful strategies must overcome the notion that “only men do science”. Scientists may be particularly loath to concede that they are influenced by the culture in which they were raised and would espouse an egalitarian worldview that does not endorse an innate difference between genders in their ability to perform high-quality research. Acknowledging the reality that scientists are just as biased as the rest of humanity is crucial. That bias cannot be permitted to interfere with evaluations that should be based on ...

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