Research shows that even individuals committed to equality harbor unconscious biases that impact everyday decisions and interactions. In the IT workplace, unconscious gender bias can mislead employers, both male and female, to make inaccurate judgments in hiring, performance reviews, and promotion. Furthermore, overt sexism continues to occur in male-dominated workplaces and can be difficult to confront and remedy.

The National Center for Women & Information Technology has produced a series of useful case studies focused on presenting the research related to bias and discrimination in the workplace.  These case studies highlight promising practices and concrete steps that will reduce the impact of bias and discrimination and generate greater equity in technical fields.  

Case Studies:

• Avoiding Unintended Bias in Letters of Recommendation
• Avoiding Gender Bias in Recruitment/Selection Processes
• How Does the Physical Environment Affect Women’s Entry and Persistence in Computing? Design Physical Space that Has Broad Appeal
• Assessments for Identifying Overt Sexism