Modern civilisation is founded on the belief that all humans are created equal. But can we really envision a world where everyone is treated fairly and without prejudice?

For those who have dedicated their lives to fight for social justice, the recent rollbacks of diversity equity and inclusion measures (DEI) feel like a dangerous step in the wrong direction. Indeed, after decades of fierce campaigning to have these principles incorporated into the mainstream, it’s painful to watch Trump attacking diversity measures; to watch JD Vance sponsoring a ‘Dismantle DEI’ bill; to see large private companies like Walmart, McDonalds and Meta drop their DEI programs.

But how did we get here? How did a concept rooted in fairness and equality become so politically charged?

Resistance to DEI generally takes the stance that measures to support marginalised groups have gone too far. That policies designed to uplift women, people of colour and other marginalised groups, have morphed into what Trump calls, an ‘anti-white feeling’. This ‘anti-woke’ backlash suggests that in attempting to correct and counter-balance historical injustices, DEI has itself become a force of injustice.

The thing is equality is not a zero-sum game. Rights for one do not have to come at the expense of another. To achieve equality, we must challenge this divisive mindset that pits us against each other. To build social justice, we need to understand and unlearn the biases that underpin all systemic inequalities.

To begin, we need to step away from the shame and guilt that shrouds the idea of bias. If we want to establish a more empathetic and cohesive society, we need to understand and face-up to our biases, we need to create space between the things we think and the decisions we make.

With this, it’s important to acknowledge that we all have biases. Indeed, biases are themselves not moral failings, they are a product of human evolution. Babies, for example, quickly learn to favour those who look similar to their primary caregivers. The inclination towards our own ‘tribe’ was once critical for survival.

The problem is, while this process of distinguishing our tribe or in-group from the out-group is a key part of building our sense of identity and belonging, it also lays the groundwork for divisive stereotypes to become cemented in our minds. Here, while biases may initially develop to help us make sense of the world and our place in it, they quickly become flawed tools that filter complex people through narrow assumptions. Where humans are multifaceted beings, reductive stereotypes not only reinforce and reproduce unequal hierarchies, but also leave each one of us feeling misunderstood.

The good news is there are things we can do to rewire our brains. We are not born with biased thoughts, and our neuroplasticity means we have the capacity to shift our thinking and build new habits. Change is possible, but it requires deliberate effort.

Here we can look to Anu Gupta’s science backed ‘PRISM’ method which proposes five practices to break bias.

Firstly, he proposes mindfulness as a powerful technology that helps us observe the way stereotypes arise in our mind, creating a gap between our thoughts and actions. Here, by cultivating self-awareness and self-acceptance, we gain the clarity needed to confront and change our biases.

Secondly, stereotype replacement is a method proposed to break the false narratives we hold. When we catch ourselves making stereotypical assumptions, we can actively question them and replace them with alternative, unbiased narratives. Over time, this weakens the neural pathways that reinforce prejudice.

Building on this, individuation describes a practice of seeing people as individuals rather than representatives of a group. By recognising the unique traits of the people we interact with, we break away from generalised reductive thinking. Further, this is important for all of us, because we are all multifaceted people who want to be understood as such.

Additionally, prosocial behaviour encourages us all to engage in activities that bring up positive emotions of empathy, joy and altruism, emotions that help us build more inclusive compassionate relationships. Indeed, where biases are fuelled by negative emotions of fear and anger, by actively shifting our emotional outlook, we can counteract our tendency to prejudiced thought.

Finally, perspective taking is a powerful tool, allowing us to break biases by stepping into someone else’s shoes, by trying to see the world through their eyes. Unfortunately, in today’s polarised society – shaped by social segregation and algorithm-driven echo chambers – our capacity for perspective taking has deteriorated. Indeed, where people are not connecting across difference, we need to do much more to understand and communicate with people who hold different views. By fostering meaningful connections and practicing radical empathy, we can however bridge divides and overcome bias.

Ultimately, while we may no longer be able to rely on institutions to uphold DEI, we can continue to take action at an individual level. By practicing these techniques, we can begin to unpick the biases that perpetuate inequality.

This work is not easy, but it is essential. A more equitable society is within reach, not through shame or blame, but through understanding, empathy and action. As we confront our biases and rebuild our mental habits, we create the foundation for a world that is more inclusive, understanding and just.

In these challenging times, we must continue campaigning for DEI and recognise that we have the tools to establish a society that is more understanding, tolerant and inclusive.