XA3003 Assignment Prioritizing Social Determinants of Health

In the break room conversation, identify at least three statements that clearly demonstrate bias or prejudice. Explain why these statements reflect bias and which specific group or characteristic they target.

Below are some examples of discriminatory words that were used in the break room conversation. Among the instances is when the man says, “She doesn’t look gay.” With those pretty pink heels, she really does make me feel like a woman. This statement demonstrates bias as well since it attempts to stigmatize the homosexual woman by depriving her of the femininity that comes with being gay (GÜLEÇ et al., 2022). That is, it suggests that gay men should subscribe to a certain style of aesthetic, as lesbians should, one that is connected with homosexuality a highly offensive and bigoted suggestion.

The second biased statement is from the female speaker, “Admin is now on a roll to get more minorities to diversify the workplace. This is evident racism since it makes the white people believe that the administration’s initiatives at diversification are undesired or a nuisance (Doytcheva, 2020). It also exposes the prejudiced and negative attitudes towards minorities and provides a reminder that hiring a minority employee might be more important than hiring the best candidate.

The third bias revealed was when the male speaker said, “I find it very difficult to follow what some of the new employees they have hired are saying,” which revealed a bias against the female employees. For instance, many of them do not have English as their native language. This is an offensive expression to people who come from diverse backgrounds, have different communication styles, and different educational backgrounds all around the world. It suggests that linguistic diversity within the workforce is “bad,d” not “good” (Kim et al., 2018).

Point out an instance of subtle bias in the conversation. How does the statement perpetuate stereotypes or assumptions about certain groups? Discuss why these subtle biases might be just as harmful as more overt expressions of bias.

Only when the female presenter says, “But I’ve really liked it when you hired a Black OR manager,” is it an example of well-hidden prejudice. She speaks with great fluency and seems to be integrating well when she speaks. At first, this comment may sound good, but the reality is that it gives the impression that Black workers are expected to be effective and articulate communicators (Ferguson & Dougherty, 2021). As you never imagined that a Black person could be eloquent, criticizing the new boss for his articulation when referring to the lack of aggressive and assertive behavior in Black people is really a means of maintaining the stereotype.

The nurses in the scenario have expressed bias in many of their statements. How might the bias of the nurse’s impact social determinants of health and quality care?

The biases spoken of by the nurses in the talk may have bad outcomes on the social determinants of health and on patient care. This is because any prejudices that exist in society against individuals with homosexual inclinations or those of a certain color, origin, or language are likely to be transferred to the patients which may lead to disparities in care (Lesińska-Sawicka, 2022). For example, a nurse who has negative attitudes towards the LGBT patients will not respond or care for them in a manner that will meet their needs as required. Similarly, stereotypes about non-American people’s use of the English language could interfere with communication or even result in a different way of providing care. Bias distorting clinical reasoning can exacerbate social inequalities in health, and challenge patient–physician trust, thereby reducing access to health care for minorities.

Imagine you were present in the break room during this conversation. How would you respond to at least one of the biased statements? Outline at least three strategies you could use to address bias and prejudice constructively, fostering a more inclusive and respectful environment in the workplace.

The male speaker of this conversation says, ‘I don’t talk to anybody about my sexual preferences. If I were is in the break room, I’d correct him and say, ‘I don’t go around telling everybody my sexual preferences’. I would then humbly reply that people of the LGBTQ+ community are not carrying any banner as they are just requesting to be treated and recognized or acknowledged as their own person.

The following would be considered if there was bias involved in a constructive way in the workplace: First, I would get my peers in the workplace to go through Diversity and Inclusion training to learn about how excluded populations think and feel (Dover et al., 2020). This will give them not only knowledge, but also some ideas of how to get rid of their prejudices and behave more courteously with the other party. Second, I would pay attention to people’s preferred pronouns, orientation, and race in interaction, and be sensitive to them, as the reason for the awkwardness is a cumulative effect from everyone’s interactions. Lastly, I would recommend changes in the institution, including having a clear policy on inclusion and creating safe spaces for staff to talk about their experiences with BIA, to keep the workplace as a supportive place for all.