Unmasking the Unseen: My Journey with Unconscious Bias

Before I truly understood the term “unconscious bias,” I had already lived through it many times.

I’m Mosfeka Zannat, a woman from Bangladesh — a social entrepreneur, development researcher, and someone who has worked for over a decade with marginalized communities. I come from a culture where gender roles are often rigid, and leadership is often expected to wear a man’s face.

When I first began leading my organization, many people would approach my male colleagues for decisions, even when I was the founder. I remember attending a funding meeting where the panel addressed every question to a junior male team member beside me. I had done all the research, developed the proposal, and built the model — but they assumed he was the decision-maker simply because of his gender. That’s unconscious bias.

It wasn’t always direct or malicious. Sometimes it came in the form of surprise — “Oh, YOU are the founder?” — as if I had broken some invisible rule. Other times, it was being told to “speak softer,” “smile more,” or “not sound too ambitious” — feedback rarely given to male leaders.

At first, I stayed silent. I smiled politely. But over time, I realized silence only fuels the bias.

I started speaking up. I gently corrected people. I asserted my position, not with anger, but with calm, unwavering clarity. I empowered my team of young women to do the same. We now conduct gender-sensitivity workshops in our communities, where both men and women reflect on their own internalized assumptions.

Unconscious bias isn’t always visible — it hides in language, tone, gestures, and decisions. But the more we name it, the more we can change it.

Through my journey, I’ve learned that challenging unconscious bias isn’t about fighting people — it’s about awakening awareness. And sometimes, one conversation can spark a shift that changes a whole system.

This is why mentorship programs like World Pulse are so vital. They give us the tools to recognize bias, the voice to challenge it, and the solidarity to keep going.

Content Summary for Social Media or Presentation Slide:

> Unconscious Bias: What I’ve Learned

🔸 Definition: Unconscious bias is the automatic judgment or stereotype we hold about others without realizing it — often based on gender, age, ethnicity, or background.

🔸 My Experience: I faced gender-based bias in leadership, often being underestimated or overlooked despite leading major initiatives.

🔸 How I Dealt With It:

I named it calmly and confidently

Empowered others on my team to recognize and respond to bias

Started awareness sessions in my community

🔸 Lesson: To change systems, we must first change mindsets — and that begins with awareness.

✨ Let’s unlearn the bias we didn’t know we had. Let’s lead with equity.