Comments on: Are you sexist? Are you a bigot? http://www.jenzed.com/2005/06/16/are-you-sexist-are-you-a-bigot/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:04:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: jen http://www.jenzed.com/2005/06/16/are-you-sexist-are-you-a-bigot/#comment-1275 jen Wed, 22 Jun 2005 04:00:33 +0000 http://www.jenzed.com/2005/06/16/are-you-sexist-are-you-a-bigot/#comment-1275 Very good point - the fundamental principle of most legal systems is that one is judged by one's actions, not one's thoughts. (thank Dog. ) My concern - and my inflammatory, yellow-journalism subject heading - is because our actions *are* our personal responsibility, whether or not they're prompted by conscious or unconscious motivations. Whether we like it or not, we're victims of our subconscious - our "blink" responses. So, for example, I might consciously believe in gender and racial equality, but my actions, influenced by my subconscious responses, might be contrary to my conscious beliefs. In "blink", Gladwell suggests that the way to change those subconscious judgements is via exposing yourself to those people that you subconsciously de-value. However, I've been exposing myself to positive-role-model-type women (including myself) for most of my life, but the Implicit Association Test tells me that I still have a bias against women. Even though I'm a woman. sheesh. Very good point - the fundamental principle of most legal systems is that one is judged by one’s actions, not one’s thoughts. (thank Dog. )

My concern - and my inflammatory, yellow-journalism subject heading - is because our actions *are* our personal responsibility, whether or not they’re prompted by conscious or unconscious motivations. Whether we like it or not, we’re victims of our subconscious - our “blink” responses. So, for example, I might consciously believe in gender and racial equality, but my actions, influenced by my subconscious responses, might be contrary to my conscious beliefs.

In “blink”, Gladwell suggests that the way to change those subconscious judgements is via exposing yourself to those people that you subconsciously de-value. However, I’ve been exposing myself to positive-role-model-type women (including myself) for most of my life, but the Implicit Association Test tells me that I still have a bias against women. Even though I’m a woman. sheesh.

]]> By: J. Marcus Xavier http://www.jenzed.com/2005/06/16/are-you-sexist-are-you-a-bigot/#comment-1274 J. Marcus Xavier Sun, 19 Jun 2005 01:33:48 +0000 http://www.jenzed.com/2005/06/16/are-you-sexist-are-you-a-bigot/#comment-1274 I'm currently reading Blink and I'm about to the part where they talk about the mental associations. I think it's fascinating, but the topic should be handled carefully--since those kinds of issues are touchy. I dont think having subconscious relations like that make you a bigot--they're just the result of the social norms around you. You're responsible for what conscious actions you take, and you cant blame that on the environment. But these little things in the back of your mind are a different creature, and until you become aware of them and work to fix them, I dont think you can necessarily be wronged for having them. I’m currently reading Blink and I’m about to the part where they talk about the mental associations. I think it’s fascinating, but the topic should be handled carefully–since those kinds of issues are touchy. I dont think having subconscious relations like that make you a bigot–they’re just the result of the social norms around you. You’re responsible for what conscious actions you take, and you cant blame that on the environment. But these little things in the back of your mind are a different creature, and until you become aware of them and work to fix them, I dont think you can necessarily be wronged for having them.

]]>