Discuss some of the ways in which sexism shows itself in society

Authors Avatar

Throughout this essay I will discuss some of the ways in which sexism shows itself in society, why it persists, and what can be done to reduce or eliminate it. In doing this I will critically discuss some definitions of sexism from structural, cultural, institutional, and personal perspectives. I will make reference to the Sex Discrimination Act (SDA) and Equal Pay Acts (EPA), the significance of targets and agents, and also draw on my own experiences and observation.

Within western society it can be said that sexism, in many ways, begins at birth and will continue throughout our lives.  This conditioning commences when boys are born, the most well known colour of clothing for them to wear is blue and newly born girls are dressed in pink.  It is almost a must for young boys to be given gifts such as guns, cars, along with other macho objects such as a football kit.  Girls, on the other hand, are expected to play with dolls and prams, tea sets and other feminine domestic items.

As we develop in our lives boys are, more often than not, encouraged to help the fatherly figure around the home.  This could entail handing a hammer to the male adult or given responsibility for dirtier chores, such as, taking the bin out.  In the meantime girls might be seen to be assisting the motherly figure with cooking, cleaning and washing the dishes.

Young boys might be encouraged (rather not discouraged) to play football, climb trees and shoot pretend firearms with their male pals.  Where young girls who might wish to take part in such fun would, more often than not, be called tomboys and frequently be told it wasn’t ladylike to behave in this manner.  Often we hear comments like she’ll grow out of it and she should’ve been a boy or, in a young boys case, it’s just a phase and little weirdo if he tends to prefer make-up or a toy vacuum to more selective male toys.

In schools, not so many years ago, boys were noted to take woodwork classes whereby girls were expected to take cookery.  Boys cut up rats in science and girls learned needlework.  Jane Austin books make classic sexist reading.  Females in a physical education setting were made to wear embarrassing big blue knickers and boys wore more comfortable shorts.  

Whilst girls participated in the schools’ curriculum of netball and gymnastics, boys participated in football, rugby and hockey.  Why hockey?  It is perceived as an aggressive, physical sport and probably more suited to the strength of males rather than the weakness of females????  

Should we have single-sex schools?  Notre Dame (Scotland’s only single-sex female school) and Glasgow City Council (who run said school) are being challenged on the grounds it breaches the SDA.  A mother is claiming her son is being discriminated against. (The Scotsman 12 June 2002)

We have yet to reach the fact women doing the same job as a man is paid a lot less and, we won’t even cover the topic where men think it amusing to crack uncouth and insulting jokes about women.  

Join now!

Within the nursing profession the majority of nurses are women as it is deemed a maternal role, yet in the administration in the same department men dominate management.  Is it right that police officers be paid more than nurses?

In our society women whinge, moan and nag.  Men discuss and debate.  Then we have the female who wishes to get involved in several intimate relationships in a very short period of time, which is fine as long as she knows she will be labelled a slut, slapper, cow, whore and so on. Men in a similar situation will be termed a ...

This is a preview of the whole essay