Who Gets Help and Who Gets Overlooked?
A couple of weeks ago I attended a talk presented by Professor Mahzarin Banaji, a world-renowned social psychologist from Harvard, and it was one of those moments that made me stop and think—really think—about how much of what we do is shaped by things we don’t even realise.
Implicit bias—the unconscious attitudes we all carry—has a way of influencing our decisions, our interactions, and even the opportunities we do (or don’t) give to others.
One thing that stuck with me was when she asked: “How will we be perceived by future generations?”
It’s a confronting thought. I thought about how I look back on decisions made by others and wonder “How the hell did that happen?” Think doctors prescribing smoking to help people breathe better or cars being made without seatbelts.
The other thought I had was who is involved in decision-making? History tells us that progress isn’t just about what changes, but who gets to decide what the new normal looks like.
During the talk, we explored how bias plays out in healthcare—why some people are more likely to be prescribed painkillers than others, simply because of their race. We talked about gender—how people are judged differently for the exact same behaviour. How leadership, confidence, and even competence can be interpreted one way in a man, and another way in a woman.
This echoes some of the things I’ve been teaching my students this week, as we looked at intersectionality, ecosystems and how power and privilege can be shaped.
This is exactly why International Women’s Day still matters.
It’s not about implying that one gender is more important than another. It’s about recognising that, for generations, the scales haven’t been balanced. That women, particularly women of colour, women with disabilities, and women from marginalised communities, have had to work twice as hard to be taken seriously, to access opportunities, and even to receive basic medical care.
It’s about questioning our own biases. Who do we assume will take the day off when a child is sick? (Mum, right?) Who do we picture when we think of a CEO, a surgeon, a leader? And what does that mean for the next generation growing up with these same silent messages?
Because bias doesn’t just discriminate—it also helps, unfairly. We tend to like people more when we share common ground. We’re more likely to help someone who reminds us of ourselves. And while that sounds harmless, it means doors open more easily for some than for others.
So, what do we do when data doesn’t match our expectations? When the facts tell us something we don’t want to believe? We listen. We learn. And we get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
International Women’s Day is a reminder that progress takes work. It’s about pushing for equity in healthcare, education, leadership, and beyond—not as a favour to women, but because fairness benefits everyone.
And maybe, just maybe, if we keep asking the hard questions now, future generations won’t have to.