Seeing Stereotypes

Elisa Baldazzi (), Pietro Biroli (), Marina Della Giusta () and Florent Dubois ()
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Elisa Baldazzi: University of Bologna
Pietro Biroli: University of Bologna
Marina Della Giusta: University of Turin
Florent Dubois: University of Torino

No 17751, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: Reliance on stereotypes is a persistent feature of human decision-making and has been extensively documented in educational setting, where it can shape students' confidence, performance, and long-term human capital accumulation. While effective techniques exist to mitigate these negative effects, a crucial first step is to establish whether teachers can recognize stereotypes in their environment. We introduce the Stereotype Identification Test (SIT), a novel survey tool that asks teachers to evaluate and comment on the presence of stereotypes in images randomly drawn from school textbooks. Their responses are systematically linked to established measures of implicit bias (Implicit Association Test, IAT) and explicit bias (survey scales on teaching stereotypes and social values). Our findings demonstrate that the SIT is a valid and reliable measure of stereotype recognition. Teachers' ability to recognize stereotypes is linked to trainable traits such as implicit bias awareness and inclusive teaching practices. Moreover, providing personalized feedback on implicit bias improves SIT scores by 0.25 standard deviations, reinforcing the idea that stereotype recognition is malleable and can be enhanced through targeted interventions.

Keywords: inequality; stereotypes; discrimination; education (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I24 J16 J24 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-03
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