Resources

TSOP Ep 8 – Accent Bias with Dr Gise Tomé Lourido and Prof. Julia Snell

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Accent shouldn’t be a barrier to opportunity. Yet for many young people, the way they speak shapes how they’re perceived, influences their confidence, and can even affect their chances of success.

This is a conversation that explores the impact of accent bias in higher education, focusing on the experiences of students with regional accents and how these biases intersect with class and race.

In this episode we’re joined by Dr Gise Tomé Lourido and Prof. Julia Snell to unpack the impact of accent bias in education. Both share insights from their research, highlighting the normalisation of mocking accents, the internalisation of negative comments by students, and the importance of fostering a sense of belonging. They discuss initiatives at the University of Leeds aimed at combating accent bias and emphasise the need for a cultural change in academic settings to create a more inclusive environment.

This is a must-listen for anyone committed to fairer student outcomes.

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CHAPTERS

00:00 – Introduction to Accent Bias in Higher Education

02:56 – Personal Experiences and Motivations Behind the Research

05:32 – Findings on Accent Bias and Student Experiences

08:35 – Micro-aggressions and Their Impact on Students

11:31 – Sense of Belonging and Confidence Issues

14:05 – Intersectionality: Class, Race, and Gender in Accent Bias

17:07 – Historical Context of Accent Bias Research

20:00 – Concluding Thoughts on Addressing Accent Bias

24:57 – The Impact of Accent on Identity

26:07 – Accent Anxiety in Higher Education

27:03 – Cultural Stereotypes and Academic Identity

28:50 – Amplifying Biases in University Settings

30:02 – Equity and Participation Challenges

31:33 – Initiatives for Change at University of Leeds

33:32 – Vision for Cultural Change

35:25 – Practical Steps to Tackle Accent Bias

38:28 – Collaborative Change Across Institutions

40:39 – Changing the Narrative: Listening vs. Speaking

41:58 – Final Reflections and Takeaways

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REFERENCED RESOURCES

Blog by Gise and Julia

An Interview with Gise

University of Leeds statement on tackling accent bias

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