Diversity, Equity, and Bias in Tutoring

 Hi guys!  This week's module discussed the topic of diversity, equity, and bias.  Diversity is observed as difference in many different categories such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc.  Some of the categories that are not as frequently discussed are disabilities.  Having various health conditions or disabilities like arthritis or dyslexia is also a category that contributes to diversity.  This leads into equity which is the idea that people should receive treatment adequate for their particular needs.  Equity seeks to address the challenges of disadvantaged students.  One of the main examples of this in education is providing financial aid to socioeconomically challenged students who would struggle to stay in school due to tuition costs.  This also applies to interpersonal relationships where we should treat people not just uniformly but rather based on the way they want to be treated.

Tutoring is inherently promoting equity in education.  Students who are struggling can find help through tutoring that addresses their challenges specifically.  One of the things that stuck with me from this lesson was diversity in culture.  Certain cultures hold higher respect for teachers and that can cause students to ask less questions or be hesitant to raise their concerns.  I resonate with this idea a lot because I saw my teachers as figures of authority for most of my life.  This led to some terrible learning experiences since I felt less comfortable interacting with them and kept my problems to myself.  I want students to be comfortable with asking questions and become more proactive in their learning.  As for biases, I think everyone naturally has those and it's something to be prepared for.  We just need to keep an open mind and be attentive to our students.  Being respectful is the key.

Equity is a very contentious subject to talk about nowadays however.  In theory, equity is the obvious choice over equality.  Those in need should be treated with greater care to account for their circumstances.  The goal is to elevate everyone to a level playing field.  In practice, this is not so easy.  The definition of a level playing field is different in everyone's eyes and equitable treatment can be seen as unfair or even exclusionary to those who do not benefit.  One example is scholarship programs for women in STEM-related fields.  The goal is to encourage women to study in these areas which have been historically dominated by men.  This demonstrates a commitment to equity by helping to overcome challenges women may face in STEM.  However, it can also be seen as unfair to men since they are excluded due to being the wrong gender.  Preferential treatment based on race, gender, and other identifying traits can appear to contradict meritocracy and thus be seen as unfair.  This sparks hostility and drives a deeper wedge between people of different demographics.  While equity is necessary to fairness, the exact type and amount of assistance needed is subjectively determined.  Social progress takes time and needs a great deal of care to implement smoothly.