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Understanding Bias in Texts

This document outlines 7 forms of bias that can exist in educational texts: 1) Invisibility, where certain groups are left out or not represented; 2) Stereotyping, where groups are portrayed through simplistic stereotypes; 3) Imbalance and Selectivity, where only certain perspectives on historical events are presented; 4) Unreality, where unpleasant facts and events are glossed over; 5) Fragmentation and Isolation, where groups are depicted as only interacting with their own; 6) Linguistic Bias, where language can subtly or blatantly promote bias; and 7) Cosmetic Bias, where a text may look inclusive through images but still promotes bias in its content.

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Janine Janine
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109 views18 pages

Understanding Bias in Texts

This document outlines 7 forms of bias that can exist in educational texts: 1) Invisibility, where certain groups are left out or not represented; 2) Stereotyping, where groups are portrayed through simplistic stereotypes; 3) Imbalance and Selectivity, where only certain perspectives on historical events are presented; 4) Unreality, where unpleasant facts and events are glossed over; 5) Fragmentation and Isolation, where groups are depicted as only interacting with their own; 6) Linguistic Bias, where language can subtly or blatantly promote bias; and 7) Cosmetic Bias, where a text may look inclusive through images but still promotes bias in its content.

Uploaded by

Janine Janine
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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7 Forms of Bias

1. Invisibility: What
You don’t see makes a
lasting Impression
The most fundamental
and oldest form bias.
Women, those with
disabilities, gays, and
homosexuals continue
to be missing from
many of today’s texts.
2. Stereotyping:
Shortcuts to Bigotry
Men are portrayed as
assertive and
successful in their
jobs, but rarely
discussed as fathers;
and women as
caregivers.
3. Imbalance and
Selectivity: A Tale
Half Told
A text reports that
women were given the
vote, but does not
discuss work,
sacrifices, and even
physical abuse
suffered by the leaders
of the suffrage
movement that won
the vote.
4. Unreality: Rose-
colored Glasses
Many researchers
have noted the
tendency of
instructional materials
to gloss over
unpleasant facts and
events in our history.
5. Fragmentation and
Isolation: The Parts
Are Less than the
Whole
Fragmentation
emerges when a group
is physically or
visually isolated in the
text. Often, racial and
ethnic group members
are depicted as
interacting only with
persons like
themselves, isolated
from other cultural
communities.
6. Linguistic Bias:
Words Count
Language can be
powerful conveyor of
bias, in both blatant
and subtle forms.
Linguistic bias can
impact race/ethnicity,
gender, accents, age,
(dis) ability, and
sexual orientation.
7. Cosmetic Bias:
Shiny Covers
New cosmetic bias
suggests that a text is
a bias free, but beyond
the attractive covers,
photos, or posters,
bias persists. An
example is a science
textbook that features
a glossy pullout of
female scientists but
includes precious little
narrative on the
scientific
contributions of
women.

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