Sexism is discrimination based on gender, affecting women, men, intersex, transsexuals, and those who shun traditional gender roles. It includes attitudes that support discrimination and can be rooted in cultural traditions, fear, hatred or superiority. Sexism can take many forms and is often combined with other prejudices. Overcoming it requires personal courage and a willingness to call out others about their behavior while acknowledging that behavior in oneself. Leading by example is an effective way to fight discrimination.
Sexism is a form of discrimination based on gender. While many people use the term specifically to describe discrimination against women, it can also affect men, intersex and transsexuals, along with individuals who shun traditional gender roles and identities, such as people who identify as genderqueer. Like other “-isms,” sexism has far-reaching effects in society, and its study is a complex field.
In addition to outright discrimination, sexism includes attitudes that support discrimination, such as the stereotyping of sex roles and the generalization of an entire gender. It can be rooted in cultural traditions, fear, hatred, or superiority, with many sexists believing their gender is superior for a variety of reasons. While many nations have laws designed to counter sexism in places like the workplace, it often infiltrates society so thoroughly that these attitudes cannot be easily shrugged off.
Gender-based discrimination can take a wide variety of forms. For example, some people believe that women should stay home to focus on raising children and maintaining the home, rather than pursuing professional careers. This attitude can lead to severe criticism when career women are involved, and as seen in the 2008 US presidential primaries, high-profile women are not exempt from sexism, even when running for president of the United States. Others may feel that men should not engage in “women’s work” such as nursing, teaching or housework, criticizing men who pursue these activities.
It’s also possible to see sexism from within a genre, as well as criticism from outside. Members of the same gender often criticize each other with arguments rooted in sexism, such as when women criticize each other for being too masculine and challenging traditional ideas about gender roles and how women should behave. It also manifests itself in language, as demonstrated by the wide assortment of crude slang terms, most of which can’t be printed here, for the norm-defying women.
Sexism also doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It can be combined with skill, racism and other prejudices. Overcoming this and other forms of discrimination often requires a great deal of personal courage and a willingness to call out others about their behavior while acknowledging that behavior in oneself. Sometimes the most effective way to fight discrimination is to lead by example, showing critics that their ideas are unfounded, proving that men can raise children, women can excel in math and science, and so on.
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