Sexism, an insidious form of gender discrimination embedded in our society, often manifests itself in subtle and seemingly harmless ways. As all people have been educated and socialized in a patriarchal and sexist society, on many occasions we are not able to realize what behavior we carry out is sexist or sexist.
However, sexism represents an attack and exclusion of an entire sector of society, making a social impact intervention necessary to deconstruct these trends of thought and redirect them. All people deserve a valid space in society, creating safe spaces for everyone and avoiding harm to these historically differentiated, excluded and mistreated groups.
In this article, we will see examples of sexism that are very normalized in our society to help you understand the importance of deconstruction and to open your eyes and doors to a more diverse and respectful society.
To fully understand the examples of sexism that we will discuss below, it is essential to have a solid understanding of what sexism entails and in what ways it typically manifests itself. At its core, sexism refers to discrimination, inequality or prejudice based on gender. It involves treating people differently or unfairly because of their gender. Due to the normalization and socialization underlying patriarchy and machismo, sexism normally highlights these beliefs, representing hateful and exclusionary behaviors focused mainly on women. Sexism is often divided into two categories:
Sexism operates in a variety of contexts, from the home and workplace to the media and popular culture. Its influence is pernicious and persistent, and its effects can be devastating, affecting people of all genders. In the following sections, we will explore seven examples of sexism that unfortunately persist in our society and deserve our critical attention and action to achieve genuine gender equality.
We will now comment on some examples of sexist behaviors that have been normalized over time and socialization:
1. Distribution of household chores
In the context of everyday life, one of the most common manifestations of sexism is the unequal distribution of household chores. Often, this inequality is rooted in gender stereotypes that persist in our society. Although in recent years there has been significant progress in promoting gender equality, the distribution of household responsibilities continues to be an area of flagrant manifestation of sexism.
Historically, household care tasks have been purely associated with women These expectations, rooted in traditional gender roles, have largely endured in modern society. Imagine a family Christmas meal, who cooks? Who washes the dishes? Who gets up to go to the kitchen to get the dishes? Logically and fortunately, this is not the case for everyone, but it is a common social pattern that must be reflected on and deconstructed.
2. Family-work conciliation
Work-life balance is a crucial issue in the fight against sexism and the promotion of gender equality. It involves people’s ability to balance their work responsibilities with their family obligations, such as caring for children or supporting other family members. This balance is essential to allow people, especially women, to participate fully and effectively in the workplace without sacrificing their family life.
However, the barriers that exist to achieving an effective work-life balance continue to be a worrying example of sexism. In many societies, women are expected to be primary caregivers, often leading them to make career decisions that conform to these expectations. This can be translated into choosing part-time jobs or interrupting their careers to care for family which in turn contributes to the gender gap in the workplace.
Images in beauty product advertisements often present women with idealized and stereotyped beauty, promoting a limited view of what it means to be an attractive woman. Not only can this negatively impact women’s self-esteem by creating unrealistic expectations, but it also perpetuates the idea that beauty is an essential attribute to their worth.
The language used in these advertisements can also be sexist Beauty product marketing is often based on the premise that women need to correct or improve their appearance to be acceptable or desirable. This narrative implies that women must spend time and money on products to meet society’s expectations, which may be an example of benevolent sexism. Furthermore, it is worth highlighting the fact that, for example, to advertise a razor blade, female pubic hair will never be shown, unlike what happens for men.
4. Salary gap and glass ceiling
The gender pay gap is an undeniable example of deep-rooted sexism in the workplace. This gap refers to the difference in average earnings between men and women doing equivalent jobs. Despite significant progress in the fight for gender equality, the wage gap persists in many parts of the world, reflecting deep and systemic economic inequality.
The “glass ceiling” is a related concept that refers to the invisible barriers that prevent women from advancing to leadership and decision-making positions in the workplace Women often find it difficult to move up the corporate hierarchy, limiting their opportunities to reach senior management positions and influence decision-making.
5. Male gaze in the media
Representation in the media and film industry has historically been influenced by what is known as the “male gaze.” This concept refers to the perspective, both behind and in front of the camera, which usually favors the male vision of the world, relegating that of women to the background.
This phenomenon manifests itself in several ways. Firstly, women are often portrayed in the media and film in stereotypical and limited roles, as objects of desire, wives or mothers, which reinforces traditional gender roles. Additionally, the representation of women on screen tends to be less diverse and realistic than that of men, limiting the variety of stories that are told and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
Gender-based discrimination in the workplace is clearly manifested in occupational segregation, where certain jobs are traditionally considered “men’s jobs” or “women’s jobs.” This distinction, driven by entrenched gender stereotypes, limits people’s opportunities and perpetuates inequality in the workplace.
Historically, women have been directed toward care-related jobs, such as nursing, teaching or healthcare, while men have been encouraged to seek careers in fields such as engineering, technology or construction. This segregation not only perpetuates the pay gap, as “female” professions often have lower salaries, but also limits women’s access to leadership and decision-making roles.
7. Differentiated children’s toys; the pink and the blue
The differentiation of toys based on gender is another example of sexism that affects the socialization of boys and girls from an early age The toy industry has historically been guilty of promoting gender stereotypes and limiting diversity in children’s play options.
On many occasions, toys have been labeled and marketed specifically for one gender, resulting in a clear division between “boys’ toys” and “girls’ toys.” Toys for girls are often related to parenting and domestic activities, while toys for boys focus on construction, adventure, and science. This differentiation not only perpetuates stereotypical gender roles, but also limits children’s creativity and imagination.
Conclusions
In summary, these seven examples of normalized sexism show the persistence of gender inequalities in our society. By recognizing and addressing these manifestations of sexism, we can move towards a more equal society. Awareness and action are essential to eliminate gender stereotypes, promote equality in all areas and build a world where all people are treated with equity and justice.
