Pragya Agarwal

Uncovers the science behind our "unintentional" biases using real world stories underpinned by scientific theories and research. Experiments have shown that our brains categorize people by race in less than one-tenth of a second, about 50 milliseconds before determining sex. This means that we are labeling people by race and associating certain characteristics to them without even hearing them speak or getting to know them. This subtle cognitive process starts in the amygdala, the area of the brain associated with strong emotions. Does this mean that unconscious biases are hardwired into our brains as an evolutionary response, or do they emerge from assimilating information that we see around us? In Sway, author Pragya Agarwal uncovers the science behind our "unintentional" biases. Using real world stories underpinned by scientific theories and research, this book unravels the way our unconscious biases are affecting the way we communicate, make decisions and perceive the world. A wide range of implicit biases are covered, including left-handedness, age-ism, sexism and aversive racism, and by using research and theories from a wide range of disciplines, including social science, psychology, biology and neuroscience, readers learn how these biases manifest and whether there is anything we can do about them. Beginning with an introduction to what unconscious bias actually is, each chapter answers questions such as: -Do our roots for prejudice lie in our evolutionary past? -What happens in our brains when our biases are activated? -How has bias affected technology? -Can we ever completely get rid of unconscious bias? At a time when race politics, the gender pay gap and diversity and inclusivity in the workplace are dominating our conversations, understanding how unconscious bias functions within all of us is more important than ever. The book encourages readers to think, understand and evaluate their own biases in a scientific and non-judgmental way.

Unravelling Unconscious Bias

Sway

On the Choices of Being a Woman

(M)otherhood

Exploding the Myth of Gendered Emotions

Hysterical

Dr Pragya Agarwal

Wish We Knew What to Say is a vital toolkit for parents from all backgrounds to talk openly and honestly about race to their children between the ages of 2-12 about race.

Talking with Children about Race

Wish We Knew What to Say

'Read this book and feel furious, uplifted and galvanised to take its findings out into the world and fight for change' - LAURA BATES Emotions can be difficult things to define, yet we all recognise them when we feel them or see them in others. How we interpret those emotions and act on them has been heavily gendered, as far back as Ancient Greek and Roman times and – despite the improvements in societal equality – continues to be today. We’ve all heard the sayings that girls should be ‘sugar and spice and all things nice’, while ‘boys don’t cry’. In Hysterical, Pragya Agarwal dives deep into the history and science that has determined the gendering of emotions to ask whether there is any truth in the notion of innate differences between the male and female experience of emotions. She examines the impact this has on men and women – especially the role it has played in the subjugation of women throughout history – and how a future where emotions are ungendered might look.

Dr. Pragya Agarwal unravels the way our implicit or "unintentional" biases affect the way we communicate and perceive the world, how they affect our decision-making, and how they reinforce and perpetuate systemic and structural inequalities. "A fascinating and vital read."--Good Housekeeping Sway is a thoroughly researched and comprehensive look at unconscious bias and how it impacts day-to-day life, from job interviews to romantic relationships to saving for retirement. It covers a huge number of sensitive topics - sexism, racism, ageism, homophobia, colourism - with tact, and combines statistics with stories to paint a fuller picture and enhance understanding. Throughout, Pragya clearly delineates theories with a solid grounding in science, answering questions such as: do our roots for prejudice lie in our evolutionary past? What happens in our brains when we are biased? How has bias affected technology? If we don't know about it, are we really responsible for it? At a time when partisan political ideologies are taking center stage, and we struggle to make sense of who we are and who we want to be, it is crucial that we understand why we act the way we do. This book will enables us to open our eyes to our own biases in a scientific and non-judgmental way.

Andre Skupin

Self-Organising Maps: Applications in GI Science brings together the latest geographical research where extensive use has been made of the SOM algorithm, and provides readers with a snapshot of these tools that can then be adapted and used in new research projects. The book begins with an overview of the SOM technique and the most commonly used (and freely available) software; it is then sectioned to look at the different uses of the technique, namely clustering, data mining and cartography, from a range of application-areas in the biophysical and socio-economic environments. Only book that takes SOM algorithm to the GIS and Geography research communities The Editors draw together expert contributors from the UK, Europe, USA, New Zealand, and South Africa Covers a range of techniques in clustering, data mining cartography, all featuring an appropriate case study

Pragya Agarwal

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