Uncovering Hidden Biases: Challenging Subtle Forms of Sexism
On our campus, our initial survey revealed that most students denied harboring gender biases and claimed to be above sexism. To address this, we highlighted that bias often appearing in subtle ways, like casual jokes or comments that may seem harmless but can hurt others.
We created a wall where students could anonymously share statements directed at them on campus, remarks that seemed innocent but caused them discomfort.
This initiative sparked meaningful conversations, with some students recognizing their own words among the statements shared. It brought to light that their actions weren’t as “cool” or harmless, fostering self-reflection and awareness.
Another part of the campaign involved posting memes around campus. During the peak of Facebook and the rise of meme culture, many memes contained overtly or subtly sexist content.
By displaying them, we aimed to provoke a reaction and spark conversations about how these "jokes" impacted individuals. This "live troll board" also tied back in to the seemingly harmless jokes that were part of our day to day conversations written on the conversation wall.
We also created an educational animated video exploring the nuances between sex, gender, and gender roles, while also delving into the origins of gendered comments.