Break Your Cultural Biases & Say Goodbye to Trans-Atlantic Camel Riders!

By Oreoluwa O. Adedoyin, PhD

"Did you ride a camel on your way from Africa to the United States?”

“How did you survive travelling across the Sahara desert?”

“Did you grow up seeing lions and tigers roaming around?”

As a college-educated immigrant from Nigeria, I was dumbfounded, and momentarily speechless, when I heard these questions from American elementary students during a university organized cross-cultural education tour. On the tour, about 8 years ago, we were visiting one of the counties in the Appalachian region of Kentucky. I was surprised that elementary school students could contemplate and verbalize such questions in an era of easily accessible information through the Internet, although perhaps some of these children did not enjoy this service in their homes and/or schools. 

During a period of quiet self-reflection, as we headed back to campus, my own questions were:  How do you answer 5 and 6-year-old elementary school students who may not have met or interacted with someone from a different country or continent, and who looks different from them? How do you respond to children or young students who are genuinely curious, but do not know how to ask a question without relying on inaccurate and stereotypical biases?

Research shows that children develop misconceptions about other people through uninformed assumptions, socialization of perceived cultural superiority, and reinforced negative media portrayals. When false and unfounded perceptions about other races, immigrant groups, or ethnic nationalities are left unchallenged by the different social institutions (such as the home, school, media, etc.), these false impressions become ingrained as a belief system. This belief system can evolve into a prejudicial view, cultural scaffold, and an indivisible part of children’s thinking process throughout their lifespans.

In fact, we all are probably guilty of this prejudiced thinking, or “implicit bias”, about race, ethnicity, and gender, no matter how “color-blind” or “objective” we think we are, according to Dr. Molly Carnes, doctor of internal medicine, epidemiologist, and a leader in raising awareness about the negative impact of stereotypes in science, engineering and leadership.

This past spring, I heard Dr. Carnes speak on “Breaking the Bias Habit ® as part of Mentoring Week at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Currently, I am a UAB postdoctoral trainee in the Division of Nephrology, School of Medicine, working under the mentorship of Drs. Jim George and Anupam Agarwal. Events like Mentoring Week keep me thinking long after the speakers have left.

Why does the bias habit matter?

 
It matters because Dr. Carnes cites numerous studies that show how it is part of human nature to make “group assumptions” that are simply not true. Unfortunately, these assumptions can be argued as one of the several reasons why fewer women and minorities are not pursuing careers in science and engineering fields as well as in leadership positions. It is unsurprising that these untrue assumptions may inadvertently contribute to lower pay for women and minorities in research or academia. These convoluted assumptions overtime are passed from one generation to another, which may be the reason why elementary school students would confidently ask if an African immigrant female with a slight English accent must have ridden on camels across the Sahara desert to get to the U.S.

As I listened to Dr. Carnes, I thought about how we can begin to address cultural biases. The world is regarded as a global village, and with unprecedented access to the Internet, very many questions can be answered with a few simple clicks and online searches. However, using just the resources on the Internet to answer such questions may be affected by pitfalls of half-truths or totally false information for young students (and even adults).

Another strategy is to encourage traveling to other parts of the world to see other people groups and their unique ways of living first-hand. Travelling presents another opportunity to break cultural biases, though this might be quite expensive. However, where and when affordable, it may provide a new socialization and learning experience for school kids such as I encountered years ago.

Still, I strongly believe that cultural immersion experiences are unique experiences that can help remove misconceptions, educate, and enlighten the public about other cultures or countries. As I pondered over this issue, I was reminded of an old Turkish adage: “If the mountain won't come to you, you must go to the mountain.”

So, how do we go to the mountain? I suggest that the community of international students, postdocs, and faculty in institutions of higher learning like UAB see themselves as ambassadors of their countries of origin.  Wherever they go, they should help educate and enlighten people about their countries of origin in these new or host communities.

For example, I grew up as part of the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria the most populous African country with over 160 million people and multiple ethnic groups. Though the official language is English, there are at least over 500 different ethnic languages, spoken in Nigeria. Despite our differences in cultures, languages, cuisines, and religions, we were taught to cherish and appreciate our unity despite our diversity. Thus, whenever I participate in such cultural exchange outreach programs I try to teach the kids about the Nigerian culture, respectful greetings, showcase some traditional attires, share folk tales and songs, as well as cultural dance steps especially from my Yoruba tribe.

“If we truly want to break an old bad habit, it is not enough to be well intentioned”, says Dr. Carnes. Old habits should be assessed and in the words of Dr. Carnes: “It takes awareness, motivation, self-efficacy, the expectation of positive outcomes and plenty of practice to develop a new habit of mind, one that is culturally rich, inclusive, and bias-free”.

That is why it is important to provide opportunities for younger students to interact with people from a different culture, race, country, or continent which may help these students develop tolerance, and debunk misconceptions/false media portrayals. These cross-cultural learning and exchange opportunities will enable these students to appreciate that we after all, are all humans with similar passions, goals, and hobbies even though we may look different, or have a different accent.

Imagine what we could do, create, problem-solve, and forge together if we really respect how rich, diverse, smart and valuable other people from other countries and other cultures are?

And lest I forget, I didn’t ride across the Sahara desert in a camel to get here. I flew in an airplane!!!