In our daily lives, we sometimes see people being treated differently because of how much money they have or what kind of work their families do. This can happen in schools, shops, or even among friends. 

A bias is when someone believes that certain people or ideas are better than others, which can lead to unfair treatment.1 If we believe that people from poorer communities are not smart, clean, or hardworking, it changes the way we treat them. That is called social class bias.2 

1. Explicit Bias refers to attitudes and beliefs (positive or negative) that we consciously or deliberately hold and express about a person or group. 3

For example:

a. Some buildings have separate lifts for helpers and residents like seen here 

b. Signs like this are an example of explicit bias 

c. Having separate vessels in the house for helpers

2. Implicit bias is when we think or feel something about a person without realising it. We don’t mean to be unfair, but these thoughts affect how we act. Everyone has implicit biases—even those who try to be fair, like judges and journalists—because these beliefs often develop over a lifetime. However, people can learn to recognise and change these biases.

For example:

a. A teacher explains in Hindi to a student from a slum, thinking they don’t understand English. 

b. You can’t find your watch and think the electrician took it.

c. You feel shocked when a security guard’s daughter becomes a doctor. 

Everyone has biases, even if we try to be fair.

Understanding our biases helps us make better decisions and treat others more kindly. 4