Bias and Scholarship - Part 2: Consequenses

There has been some degree of concern about the possibility of academic bias. This concern is well-placed. We look towards scholarship as an important source of knowledge in our society. We make a variety of important decisions about our society, our morality and our lives based on what we learn from academia.
If academic bias exists then this knowledge is compromised and untrustworthy. For example, let's say that biologists have a bias against black people. If that bias effects their research then they will be more likely to focus in on any findings that emphasize the inferiority of blacks. Such an emphasis will make life more difficult for blacks. This is not a hypothetical exercise as historically there has been a bias against blacks. This bias has resulted in the corruption of evolutionary theory and comparative anatomy to stigmatize blacks.
This bias was the result of an overall racism in society. In other words biological scientists stigmatized blacks because others in society stigmatize blacks. As we have become more enlightened such overt racism is much less now among biologists and other individuals in society. But what if there are groups that scientists stigmatize more than other people in society. Is it possible that there are certain people or groups that scientists do not like and they will maintain this bias even if such bias is diminished in the rest of society?
I think there are such groups. The stigma among scientists can have profound consequences for members of these groups. In my next blog I will identify them and discuss why such bias has developed.

Sincerely,

Trouble-Maker