Father-Son Bias Exercise Answer

In the previous video, we discussed an exercise involving a father and son driving. They had an accident, the father died, and the son was rushed to the emergency room. When the surgeon saw the patient, the surgeon said, "This is my son." How is that possible if the father was in the car and died?

The Answer

The most obvious and common answer is that the surgeon is the mother of the son. However, many people, around half according to studies, come up with different answers such as:

  • Was the son adopted?
  • Is there a religious aspect involved?
  • Is there a sex change involved?

Unconscious Bias

The reason many people don't immediately think of the mother being the surgeon is due to unconscious bias. We often don't associate women with roles that are traditionally male-dominated, such as a surgeon. This exercise helps reveal that bias.

Recognizing and Addressing Bias

When people realize their unconscious bias, it can be a moment of self-awareness. It's important to understand that this bias is not intentional. The next step is to work on reversing and minimizing such biases to prevent them in the future.

Moving Forward

Recognizing the problem is the first step. The next step is to actively work on fixing it. Stay tuned for the next video where we will discuss strategies to minimize unconscious bias.