Anti-Bias-Approach
The Anti-Bias-Approach aim is to equalize the current state of imbalance created by prejudice and partiality and to abolish “social” discrimination. The goal of Anti-Bias’ work is to engage in intensive, success-oriented discussions about power and discrimination; as well as to work on alternatives to oppressive and discriminating forms of communication and interaction.
The concept was discovered at the beginning of the 1980s in the USA for elementary and primary school systems. The approach was then further developed for the most part in South Africa after the end of Apartheid. It also evolved into being used in adult education. At the beginning of the 1990s Anti-Bias came to Germany and was introduced to the elementary and secondary school system as well as to the adult continued education departments.
A particular approach used by Anti-Bias is the focus on all forms of discrimination. The group doesn’t only address the ostracism and belittlement of people based on their ethnical or ‘racial’ characteristics, but rather also refers to gender, sexual orientation, physical or mental health, social class etc. The multi-layered entanglements and interdependence between individual discriminatory practices are especially important within this approach.
Anti-Bias’ approach differs from other concepts in that it goes beyond the goal of individual behavioral changes (although that is also intended). Instead it focuses emphatically on the social as well as the structural level. Discrimination does not just come from individual prejudices, but is rather based on prevailing, socially-shared conceptions, judgments and discourses. This complex correlation extends deeply into the institutional, judicial, educational and basic social structures that constitute every day life. One of Anti-Bias’ goals is to spread awareness and to develop other possible courses of action to deal with these issues.
Anti-Bias is seen as an open concept that goes further than the closed approach of only implementing specific Anti-Bias methods. By constantly revising, adapting and adding to the methodology, the Anti-Bias approach is in a constant state of further development. The Anti-Bias approach is a life-long (learning) process and a basic way of life. It takes a clear position against every kind of discrimination by coming from a position of the acknowledgment and protection of human rights.
