6 Ways Families Can Identify Hidden Biases and Distorted Lenses
- Dr Shungu Hilda M’gadzah
- 16 minutes ago
- 1 min read
Your children don’t just inherit your eye colour. They inherit your lenses too.
Families often pass on far more than traditions, routines or values. We also pass on assumptions, fears, comfort zones and inherited narratives about who belongs, who feels “safe,” and who is seen as different.
In this short video, I explore 6 ways families can identify their distorted lenses and biases - not to induce guilt or shame, but to invite reflection.
These include:
asking where our beliefs came from
noticing whose voices are missing from our lives
identifying our family’s “caves” of comfort
challenging inherited narratives
reflecting on everyday judgements
intentionally widening the lens through diverse relationships, stories and experiences
If we want to raise children who are thoughtful, inclusive and able to build bridges across difference, we have to become more aware of the lenses through which they are learning to see the world.
What beliefs, fears or assumptions might families be passing on without even realising it?