English (Bias)

• Bias means that a person prefers an idea and possibly doesn’t give equal chance to a different idea.

  Bias

  a statement that offers a personal opinion.

  stand of a speaker or writer.

  does not propose any factual evidence, empirical data or researched based information.

  elucidates an idea that shows partiality to an already formed judgment.
• generalizations – not being specific, making broad statements. Ex. Dogs are more social than cats.
• stereotypes – the author labels an entire group Ex. If an outsider believes that a social group is aggressive, this might cause him/her to act antagonistically or with animosity towards that member of that group
• Importance of Determining and Examining Biases:

  • for the readers to know the stand of a writer
  • allows the readers to form personal stand about the ideas being presented instead of immediately getting swayed by what is being forwarded in a reading text
  • helps the readers to appreciate a text based on its own merit
  • helps readers decide whether they should agree or disagree with the author
• Kinds of Bias:

  gender bias (sexism) – the tendency to prefer one gender over another. Ex. sexual harassment
• disability bias – a belief that people with physical or mental impairments are inferior. Ex. A blind person was refused entry in a restaurant because he is blind and has a guide dog.
• Bias is a tendency to prefer one person or thing to another, and to favor that person or thing.

  What is bias for and bias against?

  To be biased towards something means you favor it over something else. To be biased against something means you do not favor it over something else.
• age bias (ageism/agism) – discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age; was coined by Robert Neil Butler in 1969. Ex. losing a job because of your age
• race bias – a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment made solely on an individual’s race. Ex. “blacklist” or “blacklisting”, a term used in cybersecurity job
• LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning)bias - discrimination against sex preference. Ex. negative experiences
• ethnicity bias – discrimination against individuals based on their ethnic group. Ex. inequities in such areas as education, employment and healthcare
• exaggerations – overstating something, stretching the truth. Ex. All students play games on their netbooks during class.
• loaded words – words designed to make you emotional, either in a good or bad way. Ex. Congressman Smith was born near the green pastures of Indiana and raised with wholesome family values.
• opinions – the way the author feels or believes, not necessarily based on fact. Ex. Chocolate is the best flavor of ice cream.
• one–sided argument – the author presents one side of an argument Ex. Children under 12 should not be allowed to stay home alone.