Name
Through the Looking Glass - Mitigating the Effects of Stereotype Threat
Date & Time
Friday, April 16, 2021, 9:10 AM - 10:10 AM
Description

Stereotype threat is "the threat of being viewed through the lens of a negative stereotype or the fear of doing something that would inadvertently confirm that stereotype" (Steele & Aronson, 1995). Research suggests that when students are in performance situations with the potential to activate this “threat”, stress levels may increase, working memory may be reduced, capacity to focus on the task may be lessened, performance may be impaired, and/or sense of belonging in a chosen field may be reduced. Stereotype threat can affect anyone, depending on the context, but students who identify with groups that are underrepresented in a field or institution may be especially vulnerable to its effects. In this workshop, we will define stereotype threat, review the science behind it, identify triggers that may activate this threat, and identity and practice empirically supported strategies to defuse the impact of stereotype threat to foster an equitable learning environment.

Session Type
Workshop