Addressing unconscious bias

Everyone is talking about gender equality, but what does “unconscious bias” look like? Would you know it if you saw it? Would you know it if you had it?
Our unconscious bias team - committed to ensuring that McKinsey is cutting-edge in this area - put together this video to use with our clients as we work with them on this important topic. It’s meant to make you think about your own experiences. Hope you enjoy it as much as our consultants and clients have!

[@mitchmosler5278]

This isn’t unconscious bias but conscious and maybe even implicit.

[@Rocklefebvre]

Unconscious and implicit bias are the exact same thing. And I don't agree this is conscious - it is only overdramatized for the ironic effect.

[@petis1976]

Unconscious bias, A thought you don't even know you are having. How about instead, you worry about yourselves and your own actions rather than the supposed thoughts of millions of people you've never met!

[@Maharetsamarasuke2]

I assume you meant "to let women succeed" not "help women succeed" no sarcasm.

[@couldbe8348]

Women belong in the home.

[@mactastic144]

I question whether some of these are problematic, or normal conversation.

[@killersushi99]

Guess what im thinking right now......EXACTLY!! Now how can you correct it? EXACTLY!! You cannot correct a behavior on a thought that you do not even know you are having.

[@BarkeFarajKamussBK]

As a human beings, we have to learn to be responsible for our thoughts and actions by learning how to be self-aware. That is one way to address this issue.

[@onemouthymerc]

I can't love this enough!!!

[@hasansahin216]

That's why you should never chit chat or small talk. That is for people who are either anxious and can't stop talking about trivialities or people who are obsessed about their public persona. Talk when you are asked or required to do so and make your statements serious, brief and to the point. You will never be interrupted and will always be taken seriously. People only make assumptions about things that are blurry and unclear. Be precise !

[@amc998]

Great work, thank you!

[@InspiredAlex]

Wow, must be filmed in a 1950 work place.

[@lizzchambers9808]

You have no idea how many times I have been asked to take notes in a meeting when I am the only female. I am a VP just like the rest of them and not a good notetaker so the only reason is that I am female. The emotional comments, well, all I can say is that a man can get emotional and he is passionate about his job and me, well I am just too emotional. This is all too true!

[@Aussiex77x]

*Addressing

[@sharonobenland2603]

That's great that McKinsey is taking a stand...

[@garypipe1770]

Addressing Unconcious Bias? It doesn't exist, there you go I've addressed it. We all have free will and choose exactly how we act. I have no doubt these scenarios have happened and to many people which is truly terrible and shameful but please remember they weren't forced to act like that. They chose to act like that, don't give people like that an excuse for being an a**hole.

[@letmeseemm]

I used to work in consulting and still work in corporate America. I've experienced a number of these situations.

[@Fromard]

Message of this video: "Remember, always feel guilty. Deep down you have a lot of faults."

[@bigjames4621]

Or, not to be biased or chauvinistic.

[@Fromard]

@@bigjames4621 Remember James, you too are biased and chauvinistic and you don't even know it, but still try not to be.

[@bigjames4621]

@@Fromard the first step though is to be cognizant. Then I can at least acknowledge it and work to be better.

[@Fromard]

@@bigjames4621 Good for you!

[@skoustas]

Great video!

[@blitherbox7467]

If you could remove subconscious biases from anyone at any time, which ones would you remove? Would you seduce women? Make dancing robots? Or be a cult leader? I think its an important question. Because that's what a stage hypnotist does. If all the world is a stage this could be very important.

[@adriansandu2583]

Silly.

[@imperatoraugustus689]

Profiling is natural and beneficial.

[@thehoneyeffect]

to who?

[@brownasiankid1782]

Yes if Muslim profiled whites/europeans when they had thier chance in battle of tours we could have prevented the turmoil in our countries not to mention centuries of opression of the globe!

[@bigjames4621]

@@thehoneyeffect only to the profiler.

[@bostoncaruthers5633]

This was an entertaining video lol, i think nothing can beat hard work and instead of complaining about it you should accept it and keep working. We all need to be tougher and not be so sensitive lol

[@ashakidoredr.latinamerican1082]

Doesn't feel so good when the shoe is on the other foot, does it?

[@sreeandkaushik]

Nice!!!

[@Shieftain]

So this is what corporate cringe looks like. That was a waste of 5 minutes.

[@VanessaBellar]

Very clever!

[@PopKMedia]

I am sorry - nothing was addressed in this video... No explanations or solutions were provided. If you say those things are obvious, you're part of the problem lol

[@lynnjenkins3663]

We had to be more assertive in the 1980’ s and wouldn’t be treated like this. We laid the groundwork, don’t throw it away by being doormats. You can stand up for yourself politely and with humour without being nasty, and be more respected as a result. Men tried to put us down when they felt threatened, but the never did it twice to me!

[@philipschroeder5427]

Seriously what companies are you working at, I worked in quite a few and never experienced any woman being treated like that!?!

[@clairemakesthings]

that's the point, as a man it's likely (but not impossible) that you wouldn't experience that but a woman potentially would - your experience does not equal the next person's. the ad is encouraging you to think a little more about what barriers can be hindering people's careers and in this case often women's careers!

[@inntrainin1]

@@clairemakesthings in my company any time during our executive board meeting they want someone to take notes it is one of the two female members. When they speak of someone being emotional always a female, if you are assertive you are too aggressive if you are nice your a too passive. I understand this video more than I wish I did.

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

@@inntrainin1 : Is it possible you are being "aggressive" rather than "assertive" and "too passive" rather than "nice" ?

[@djbomboclart1501]

This video is not about unconscious bias - it is about sexism. This is precisely the kind of confused, screwed up, feminist, and feminist white-knighting thinking that passes for acceptable logic when it is nothing of the kind. The idea of this video is that the comments made by the women to the men are the kind of comments men make to women in the workplace. First of all, that's absolute rubbish, it very, VERY rarely happens. Second, if or when anything with even a hint of a sexist comment is taken offence to by a woman, if she escalates it to HR, serious consequences ensue for the male. However, most of the time many women are sensible and brush off awkward communications because they are familiar with it and are not vindictive and nasty. And third, women say, and do, far more sexist things to men in the workplace than the other way round, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, coercion and sexual coercion, bullying and intimidation, and they get away with it over 90% of the time because their male victims are too scared or too embarrassed to report it.

[@snancey]

Maybe it's not that the male victims are too scared or too embarrassed to report it, maybe they're just sensible and brush off awkward communications because they're not vindictive and nasty.

[@edinaheal1]

"This is precisely the kind of confused, screwed up, feminist, and feminist white-knighting thinking that passes for acceptable logic when it is nothing of the kind." At least you are logical man, and great that you didn't loose it as women do, because your thoughts are precious, lack dangerous emotions, pristine and always right! Amazed that you even know the statistics on something you don't often experience: " VERY rarely happens." you have the truth men! Just do yourself a favour as you do embarras yourself....and you won't even report it, so no one will defend you! You are without protection...

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

Could this be any worse ?

[@alidakhlallah5834]

this is great lmaoo

[@spike8255]

i

[@inachu]

Oh hey your mom left a message for me to give to you...... He gives me a weird look. THATS MY WIFE!!! Why I prefer not working at a company that hires the entire family.

[@fionamward9456]

lack substance and depth. Is this from the 1980s?

[@kristinereynolds2790]

Love this. Dead on.

[@412resa]

Ridiculous

[@professordrabhijitsayamber2299]

Om shanti k good day please

[@bigjames4621]

Seem to a lot of triggering based on some of the comments.

[@jscottupton]

Because this video is garbage and has NO science behind it.

[@bratmd]

Milquetoast. Do better, McKinsey

[@amyc6071]

"So I heard you're about to have your first kid. Congratulations." "Yeah, it's a girl" How about the unconscious bias that because a baby doesn't have a penis, it must be a girl? Otherwise, quite entertaining and does a good job exposing some of the ridiculous biases and expectations that women face in a workplace!

[@C3rdito]

What's ridiculous to me, is how in two years has nobody dared to point out how out of touch with reality this comment is.

[@amyc6071]

@@C3rdito not ridiculous at all. That’s the bias you’re applying if you assume a baby’s gender is determined by their genital configuration.

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

@@amyc6071 : What's ridiculous to me, is how in two years and 2 months ... woops, that's been said already.

[@amyc6071]

@@buildmotosykletist1987 maybe because it *IS* in touch with reality. So what’s your excuse?

[@petis1976]

Because biology says it's a girl. You can pretend you are whatever the hell you want but no one else is required to live in or go along with your delusions.