How My Own Biased Mindset Startled Me Out of My Wits

I’ve often praised myself for attempting to analyze any situation from various angles. I’ve always believed that there are two sides to every situation, just like there are two sides to every coin. I’ve tried to be open to other people’s perspectives, which is difficult for me because I’m a recovering perfectionist.

However, the below three game-changing events in my life have shaken my thought process and made me question my unconscious biases.

1. The Riddle Game:

This one came from a video I saw on YouTube about a riddle. You, dear reader, are welcome to try to solve it as well. This is how it goes:

A father is getting ready to take his son to a job interview for a position at a large stockbroking firm in the city. The son’s phone rings just as they pull into the company’s parking lot. “Go ahead, son, answer it,” his father says as he looks at him. The caller is the CEO of the trading firm, who says, “Best of luck, son. You got this. ” The son hangs up the phone and once again looks at his father, who is still next to him in the car. How is this possible?

Before you read on for the answers, take a few moments to consider how you think this could be possible.

Scenario 1: Is it possible that the son has two fathers?

Scenario 2: Is it the son’s grandfather?

Scenario 3: Was the son’s name “Son”?

Scenario 4: Was it his father’s voice on tape?

Scenario 5: Is it just an old man who refers to a young man as “son”?

The answer is that his mother is the CEO of the trading firm.

So, how many of you were able to figure it out?

You could crack it? Yes, I’d like to extend a standing ovation to you.

You couldn’t crack it? Don’t worry, it’s not your fault.

Our own unconscious bias, which was developed as a result of events in our environment, is to blame. When we hear the term “CEO,” we automatically picture a man in the role. I’d like to be a CEO someday, yet it never occurred to me that the CEO in the riddle could be a woman. Another reason could be the fact that only 5% of Fortune 500 companies have female CEOs.

2. Role-Models:

In a recent conversation, I was asked, "Whom do I consider as my female role model?" I silently thought through the question and tried squeezing my brain to come up with a name. However, the answer was "I didn't."

Though I was able to churn out a few names in the end, my honest answer was that I didn’t consider a woman to be my role model. I was embarrassed by my lack of knowledge about successful women living among us. I resolved to find a good role model for myself and to read more success stories about women in general. Not just know their names, but also get to know their personalities, accomplishments, and work ethics.

3. Cooking for the family:

Last year, I was invited to a colleague’s house for dinner. In the course of the dinner, I congratulated my colleague’s wife on her cooking skills; the platter was delicious. She immediately smiled at me and explained to me that she did not like cooking and that it was my colleague who had cooked dinner for us that night.

At that very moment in my mind, I went, "How can a woman not like cooking?"

I was taken aback by my thoughts. Did I believe that a woman must always be able to cook or that she must enjoy cooking?

Where was I from? Still in the 1950s? Heck, I wasn’t even born then.

I am a proud feminist who believes that we are nearing the day when women have equal rights in all areas. However, the above incidents have shown me that, in addition to championing and advocating for equal rights, I also have a few internal battles to fight and win.

And WIN I shall.

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Thank you for reading this article, if you liked it do heart it and subscribe. You can also check out my other stories on vocal here.

You can find the video of the above-discussed riddle below -

Until next time.Ciao!!

Shruthi <3