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Reflecting on implicit bias, colorism, and my role in public health

In this reflective essay, the writer explores their personal experience with implicit biases after completing three Implicit Association Tests (IAT) related to race, religion, and ethnicity. The essay highlights a moderate preference for light-skinned Black individuals, a moderate preference for Arab Muslims, and a slight preference for Asian Americans—results that prompted the writer to reflect deeply on the influence of cultural colorism rooted in their Pakistani and Chinese upbringing. By connecting these insights to real-world implications in public health, the writer emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing unconscious biases in professional practice. The essay thoughtfully argues that implicit preferences can contribute to health disparities and hinder equitable care, particularly when they go unexamined. Through this reflection, the writer commits to advocating for inclusive and bias-aware practices in future public health work, especially in challenging colorism and promoting equity in community health settings.

April 7, 2025

* The sample essays are for browsing purposes only and are not to be submitted as original work to avoid issues with plagiarism.

Reflective Writing Assignment

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Word count: 273

Reflective Writing Assignment

Participating in the Implicit Association Test (IAT) opened my eyes to crucial

personal biases. My IAT test focused on three different factors: race (skin tone), religion

(Arab Muslims vs. other individuals), and ethnicity (Asian Americans vs. European

Americans). The crucial result involved a moderate automatic preference for light-skinned

Black individuals compared to dark-skinned Black people. Further findings showed a

moderate preference for Arab Muslims over other individuals and, lastly, a slight preference

for Asian Americans over European Americans.

One surprising result that confirmed my bias was skin tone. My background has often

been inclined toward colourism, especially through cultural experiences connected to

Pakistan and Chinese communities. Growing up, I could see relatives show clear preferences

for lighter skin, with comments like "You look dark today." This was common, especially

with uncommon admiration for celebrities with pale complexions. Most cultures associate

lighter skin with beauty and sometimes purity. While darker skin is seen as less desirable, I

did not consider such standardization of colorism as challenging at that age. Looking back

now, I can not imagine how it might have felt.

Moving forward, I believe that as a future public health professional, understanding

these implicit preferences is crucial to addressing the inherent real-world disparities in public

health. Bias, even when unconscious, is still damaging to our practice, especially while

interacting with the patient and the community as a whole. The IAT test is a reminder to me

to challenge the internalized narratives I grew up with. I want to specifically address colorism

and other biases in my mindset and professional setting, as well as to advocate for inclusive

and equitable approaches to public health.

April 7, 2025

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Academic level:

Undergraduate 3-4

Type of paper:

Reflection essay

Discipline:

Public health

Citation:

Not Applicable

Pages:

1 (275 words)

Spacing:

Double