A Series of Tweets Regarding My Own Personal Sexism

Apropos to a discussion on Twitter about this Slate article, a discussion of sexism, specifically, my own:

(Quick multitweet spree about to commence in roughly 10 seconds, lasting no more than five minutes. Be prepared!) — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

Parallel to everyone should be able to acknowledge their own racism, I'll give a recent example of my own sexism — — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

I meet a LOT of people these days. If you're a guy, it's almost certain I will not remember you the next time we meet. BUT — — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

If you're an attractive woman? I have a MUCH better chance of remembering who you are. Because I'm straight and my brain responds. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

Is that a sexist response? Hell yes, it is. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

I acknowledge that it's a sexist response; I also work to make sure that my own innate sexism there DOES NOT affect how I treat people. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

(Note that the remembering you means I remember your face, I forget EVERYONE'S name) — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

It's the fact I acknowledge my sexism that allows me to try to correct for it when I am dealing with people. If I tried to deny it — — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

— I would be more likely to screw up my response. So yes, I'm still a little sexist. I keep working on it because that what you do. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

Or should do, anyway. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

Multi-tweet spree now ended. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

And then, the conversational addendums:

To the people going "But that's biology!" Well, guys, surprise: Your sexism can have a (partly) biological root! Who knew! — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

@scalzi Sexism isn't the biology. Sexism is not trying to be better than just your biology. — Karel P Kerezman (@GreyDuck) April 4, 2014

I'm not going to worry too much that I remember attractive women better. I will worry about whether that affects how I treat people. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

Which is to say I don't find "but it's biological!" a sufficient excuse to leave sexism unexamined and unaddressed. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

@scalzi I need to eat meat when my bloodsugar gets too low. It's biological, but I'm not eating someone's pet. Because I can control myself. — Sarah "Neila" Elkins ⚡️💜⚡️ (@NeilaK20) April 4, 2014

I will note that, anecdotally, all the "But it's biology!" protestations so far appear to be coming from men. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

NB: Outside the "attractive woman" thing, I will be more likely to remember you if there's something memorable about your appearance — — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

— i.e., I don't ONLY remember attractive women. But it's still a notable bias for me. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

Reminder, however: I WILL NOT REMEMBER YOUR NAME. Whoever you are. I once forgot my wife's name (briefly). I am terrible. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

To everyone asking if/hoping that I will remember you for your cleverness, I may. But remember what the failure mode of clever is. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014

NB also that I directly meet/interact with literally thousands of people a year at conventions/signings, etc. Special conditions apply. — John Scalzi (@scalzi) April 4, 2014