Five ways I am sexist
I think of myself as a reasonably liberated woman. I grew up in the era of "Girls Can Do Anything" t-shirts and remembering thinking, even as a little kid, "Of course they can!" Nonetheless, even in a liberal area of the country like the one I live in, gender roles are still strong and cultural norms have left me with deeply ingrained sexist assumptions.
To wit:
I notice men wearing skirts but not women wearing pants.
My default image, when someone says "teacher," "secretary," or "nurse," is of a woman. If someone says "executive," "doctor," or "stockbroker," I automatically think of a man.
If I'm walking home alone at night and I hear someone coming up behind me, I never feel a jolt of panic if I can tell the person is wearing heels.
When men start sentences with "I feel," it catches my attention.
Despite the fact that I am bisexual, if a man I am friendly with tells me I look nice, I wonder what he means by it, and if a woman I am friendly with says the same thing, I am flattered.
I know all of these things are sexist and try to counter habits like these when I notice them. But I list them here anyway because they seem to me to highlight how our culture and surroundings influence us in deep, subtle ways -- sometimes ways so subtle it takes work to even notice them -- and I think that influence is the ultimate cause of an awful lot of discrimination.
To wit:
I notice men wearing skirts but not women wearing pants.
My default image, when someone says "teacher," "secretary," or "nurse," is of a woman. If someone says "executive," "doctor," or "stockbroker," I automatically think of a man.
If I'm walking home alone at night and I hear someone coming up behind me, I never feel a jolt of panic if I can tell the person is wearing heels.
When men start sentences with "I feel," it catches my attention.
Despite the fact that I am bisexual, if a man I am friendly with tells me I look nice, I wonder what he means by it, and if a woman I am friendly with says the same thing, I am flattered.
I know all of these things are sexist and try to counter habits like these when I notice them. But I list them here anyway because they seem to me to highlight how our culture and surroundings influence us in deep, subtle ways -- sometimes ways so subtle it takes work to even notice them -- and I think that influence is the ultimate cause of an awful lot of discrimination.
posted by Sarah at 1:05 PM
2 Comments:
I don't think not being afraid of a person in high heels is quite along the same lines.
If attacked, you would probably be able to fight if not over come another woman, but i a man might br more likely to overcome you.
There is basis in reality in this example.
Strangely enough I was raised in the "girls can't do (fill in the blank)" era, but when I hear teacher, scientist, etc., I see either gender! Maybe because I have been fighting the struggle all along and have crossed many of these gender divisions myself.
Interesting... It would immediately catch my attention if I was to see a man wearing a skirt too, but arguably that's probably just because it's rarer, right?
and the bisexual thing was really interesting too. I always find myself doing that and in addition I add unfair stereotypes to the mix. If a woman with short hair and androgynous clothes, for example, was to give me a compliment I would think that she's coming on to me more than if a very feminine woman did the same thing.
P.S. awesome blog! I found it because of a comment you left on the vegan lunch box blog and the title caught my eye. so anyway kudos on the blog :o)
Post a Comment
<< Home