Unconscious Bias

This is from a few weeks ago, I drew it as I thought about what happens to women as we age. I enjoy putting words into girls’ mouths. I have done a lot of that kind of drawing over the years. It helps us see things that we as adults might take for granted, but yet are so new to newly minted people.

It has gotten a lot better for women, but it certainly is not great. Particularly for women of color. I watched the movie Tar the other night, and I recommend you see if when you can. Cate Blanchett does an amazing job playing a successful, personally flawed and maniuplative conductor, and the film brings up topics on gender equality, sexism, success and power. The character Blanchett plays is at the pinacle of her field, yet will not admit to any existance of gender bias in her field—which is fascinating because we know it exists in that world. Yes, the character Tar had to be excellent to get where she did, so for her, there was no gender barrier. Yet it exists.

I can’t pinpoint any oververt sexism towards my work, no one openly said anything to me or refused me a job because of my gender. I have felt it at times, though- it was there under the surface at different points in my career in the form of unconscious bias, either towards me or towards what I draw about or even how I draw. I have read about sexism in animation and editorial cartooning over past years—women would not be hired because of their gender. But that kind of thing is gone, only to be found under the cover of unconscious bias.

Now I feel ageism. No one says these things to your face, of course, but it’s all around us in a youth obsessed culture. I just keep drawing and writing. That’s really all any of us can do, just keep following your path, your interests and don’t let anyone stop you for reasons that aren’t about the work.

Below is a drawing I did for the NY Times writer Nicholas Kristoff for a piece he wrote about unconscious bias. Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn wrote a book called Half The Sky: Turning Opression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide. I highly recommend it.