Explicit Bias

Explicit bias is when conscious beliefs and stereotypes affect one’s understanding, actions, and decisions. With explicit bias, individuals are aware of their attitudes and prejudices toward some groups.

Oftentimes, individuals are more likely to express an explicit bias when they feel that someone or a group is a threat to their well-being. When a person believes their biases are valid, then they are more likely to rationalize unfair treatment or even violent acts. (Perception Institute)

“But explicit bias doesn’t happen in early childhood! That’s an adult thing!”

Incorrect!

Unfortunately, explicit bias exists in children as well as adults. Look at some common examples of how explicit bias shows up:

When accepting an application for a potential teacher, you tell the applicant, “You can’t work here as a teacher; you are male. But you could be the janitor.”

“We don’t accept those kids (CCAP); their parents never pay.”

“They got lice because they are low-income and don’t take care of their children.”

“You should know how to do this, you are Asian; Asians are smart.”

Saying children in single parent homes or same gender homes are worse off than families with two opposite sex parents.

A child saying they won’t play with a Hispanic child because they are all illegal.

Generally speaking, explicit bias is a learned experience. People are not born with an explicit bias. It is formed based on societal and environmental experience. But since expressions of explicit bias are conscious, they result from deliberate thought, they can be consciously regulated. Since biases begin forming at an early age, early childhood education plays a pivotal role in helping to reduce explicit bias.