Reflection on implicit/ unconscious bias videos

1. What were your reflections from the video?

   • I really appreciated the emphasis on eliminating any potential sources of bias before even beginning to look at data or start to make decisions. Its so easy for your brain to come to quick conlusions about things/ people before you are consciously aware of it. Anticipating this beforehand is critical to making better decisions
   • Everyone's brains make unconscious assumptions as shortcuts for processing information. It is important not to punish yourself for having a brain which functions in the way it has evolved to function, but to instead constantly work to make yourself aware of and to challenge your own assumptions.
   • No matter what your identities are, there are strengths to your identities. There are ways in which your individuality can be an asset.

2. In what ways have you examined your implicit biases before coming to Turing?

   • Prior to joining Turing, I have participated in multiple instances of implicit bias and antiracist training through the various theatre companies and organizations I have been a part of. However, my own self examination really changed after the murder of George Floyd this past summer and the subsequent protests. I joined an antiracist book club and have been meeting twice a month with this group since June. In between then and now we have done a lot of reading and reflecting on our biases and on the history of this country. I will say I am now more aware of my prior biases as related to race than I am aware about gender identity, age, neurodiversity, class, or physical ability. I have more to learn!

3. What kind of software do you imagine building in the future? How will understanding biases impact your products?

   • I imagine building educational software in the future that makes learning more accessible to everyone. I will constantly need to check my assumptions about what other people need and want. I can empathize all I want from my desk chair, but I think hearing directly from users will always be important. I don't know what I don't know, and need to always work to know more about what other people are experiencing.

Reflection on intersectionality article

• When you consider the way you move through the world, what elements of your identity are you most aware of on a daily basis?

  • I am most aware of my gender, physical and mental ability, age, and race

• What strengths does your identity give you? How will you utilize those at Turing?

  • My identity gives me the privilege of knowing that I will be entering into an industry composed of people that have similar identities as I do.
  • I will work to maintain awareness of this privilege and understand better how to communciate to people of my identity of their own privileges

• How do you think you could value the identies of those around you to bring out their strengths at Turing? Has there been a time where you were able to advocate or include people around you?

  • I can work to understand everyone's backgrounds and understand how they are different from my own. These differences can be huge advantages in better empathisizing with potential users of software and figuring out out how to serve the needs of people who have a different background than my own
  • There have been some times in the past where I have been able to use my identities to my advantage to advocate for and make room for people of other identities. Sometimes people of my same race and gender identity will be more open to listening to those of their same identity. This can be useful in helping those people become more open minded.

• How will your strengths impact you as a teammate? What will you bring to your cohort?

  • I have to keep in mind that my advantages and subsequent confidence might be overbearing at times and has the potential to crowd out others. It is important to use that power to share it with others and to advocate for those who may not have thsoe same advantages.
  • I will bring empathy, creativity, patience, sensitivity to the feelings of everyone in a group, and a strong work ethic. I will use my power to distribute power.

Reflection on Developer Empathy

1. Who is the developer you want to be?