Bias and Microaggressions: Impact, Prevention, and Intervention
Biases are mental shortcuts humans use to decide what is good or bad, what we like or do not like. All human beings have biases, but they can be changed once we know we have them and intend to eradicate them. Unconscious biases can create harmful environments where people are viewed negatively and affect our decision-making and hiring processes, ultimately contributing to more interpersonal, institutional, and systemic barriers. Similarly, microaggressions can also harm individuals bringing feelings of hopelessness and resentment and affecting the overall well-being of equity-deserving group members.
This module allows you to learn about biases, types of biases, microaggressions, and macroaggressions. Build awareness around the impact of microaggressions on both targets of microaggressions and microaggressors, identify strategies to recognize and address implicit biases, and consider microintervention tactics to disarm microaggressions.
This module can be applied to the Anti-Racism Foundations Certificate Program offered by the Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Western.
Module format: It is asynchronous and can be completed 100% online.
Duration: The module can be completed in approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Cost: free for Western constituents.
How to Register for the Training on OWL
- Click on the “Register for the Bias and Microaggressions Module" button below.
- Login to your OWL account using your email address and password.
- Click “Yes, add me” to join the worksite.
- Click on the “Instructions” tab on the menu to the left.
- To be recorded as having successfully completed the module, you must take a quiz once you’ve completed the module and obtain 80% or higher. The quiz can be re-taken multiple times until successful completion.
After completion of the module
Please use our submission form to upload your certificate of completion. If you do not upload the certificate using our form, it will not be recognized towards the Anti-Racism Foundations Certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get multiple attempts on the quiz?
Everyone can retake the quiz multiple times and they are granted a Certificate of Completion once they achieve an 80% on the test. The module is also tracked through MyHR. The quiz can be re-taken as many times as needed until successful completion.
How was the curriculum for this module and future modules developed?
The curriculum for this module was carefully developed considering current best practices in teaching and learning in the field of EDI and present research in anti-racism. The Bias and Microaggressions: Impact, Prevention, and Intervention module was also created with the specific context of Western University and the City of London in mind and in consultation with faculty members who are experts in anti-racism, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, Hillel Western, Western Research, staff, student leaders, and diverse Western student associations.
Who reviewed the module and approved this module?
The Bias and Microaggressions: Impact, Prevention, and Intervention module was reviewed by external experts in anti-racism and EDI-D, faculty members who are also experts in this field, Western leaders, Human Resources, Student Experience, the Office of Indigenous Initiatives, USC, SOGS, SGPS, members of the PMA, UWOSA, UWOFA, and many members of student associations at Western, among others. The module was also piloted with Western Research, WORLDiscoveries, Research Institutes, BrainsCAN, ACVS and faculty. The module was approved by Associate Vice-President EDI Dr. Opiyo Oloya.
