Sexism, which involves unfair treatment or undervaluing of individuals based on their sex or gender, such as limited job opportunities, is often directed towards women. Just like race and class, gender and sex have played a role in creating notable tensions within the United States.
Gender discrimination is a widespread problem in the workplace, affecting around 40% of American women. Numerous countries have enacted laws to address this issue, but enforcing these legislations can be difficult.
Throughout ancient civilizations, women were treated as property and denied equal rights compared to men. This historical sexism is evident in various aspects of their lives, ranging from voting to education. The term sexism emerged during second-wave feminism, coinciding with the term racism, highlighting that sexism has persisted throughout history. The Declaration of Independence exhibits embedded sexism by proclaiming "all men are created eq
...ual" without acknowledging women.
However, the women's rights movement has enabled significant progress in the political, social, and socioeconomic status of women. Even television shows from the 1950s perpetuated the notion that women were subservient to men.
In the past, women were primarily responsible for raising and educating children, particularly sons. They also managed household chores such as cooking, cleaning, and overseeing servants. Regrettably, husbands could mistreat their wives since they had limited rights (Campbell). In 1910, the Supreme Court denied wives the ability to press charges against their spouses for assault. Society widely accepted that women should have a lower status. While many believe men naturally hold advantages over women in professional settings, it is important to recognize that this belief isn't always true and can be reversed in specific situations.
Despite efforts to address the gender wage gap, women
continue to earn less than men in the same job. According to a 2017 report by Pay Equity and Discrimination, full-time female workers earned only 80.5 cents for every dollar earned by male colleagues, resulting in a twenty percent gender wage gap. To combat this issue, several laws have been put into place. The Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), as explained on Find Law, ensures equal opportunities for obtaining credit and prohibits creditors from discriminating against applicants based on factors like sex, religion, race, etc.
The departure of women from the technology and science fields is significantly influenced by sexism and sexual harassment. Even if women succeed in their careers, they often encounter assumptions that their promotions were based on gender rather than qualifications, suggesting that more deserving candidates were overlooked to increase female representation. Women frequently end up working part-time or in lower-paid positions with limited opportunities for advancement into management roles compared to men. Wolfe argues that discrimination against women goes beyond physical appearance or behavior; it includes societal expectations related to beauty, age, and sexiness—especially in sales and public relations jobs. Men typically enjoy better benefits, more time off, and superior compensation packages due to gender bias—a type of discrimination prohibited by law.
There are individuals globally who deny the existence of sexism towards women and claim that gender equality has been attained. Certain women also support a hierarchical system where they accept having a lower status than men. As per the social constructionist theory, men display sexist behavior to exclude women from male-dominated areas, irrespective of their social standing (Kasumovic, Kuznekoff). Moreover, many such women rely more heavily on men as their protector
and provider.
The issue of sexism lies in its impact on young boys, shaping them to conform to specific masculine behaviors from a young age. From birth, they are expected to suppress their emotions and avoid any form of self-expression. Love is consistently viewed as a sign of weakness. Doorman's parenting approach serves as an example of this phenomenon - when he disagrees with his son, they have a man-to-man conversation. However, when it involves his daughter, she is always encouraged to openly express her emotions. Even among peers, boys face pressure to participate in activities traditionally associated with masculinity. Additionally, men are praised for having multiple partners while women who do the same are stigmatized as prostitutes or sluts. Society discourages women from expressing anger.
According to Salles, angry women contradict societal gender norms that expect women to be kind and nurturing. In contrast, men's anger is often attributed to external factors, as society tries to explain women's frustration. Sexist behavior arises from a perceived threat to a man's position in the social hierarchy. Women who display irritability and assertiveness are often considered to be less competent and employable.
The enforcement of rules regarding men and women is not consistent worldwide due to changing standards. In recent times, a number of women, including Susan B. Anthony, have challenged the notion of male superiority. Anthony herself faced arrest for unlawfully casting her vote in a presidential election in 1872.
Fourteen other women were also arrested, but only Anthony's actions were utilized as evidence. She received a $100 fine, which she refused and never paid. Additionally, Anthony successfully persuaded the University of Rochester to admit female students and gathered pledges
totaling $50,000, for which she was eventually reimbursed. Thanks to her extraordinary bravery, Susan became the inaugural woman to be depicted on an American coin. When questioned about the possibility of women obtaining voting rights within her lifetime, Anthony replied by asserting that while it will inevitably happen, she won't live long enough to witness it.
Although the right of self-government will be granted within a generation, we cannot deny half of our people this right (Anthony). The granting of women's suffrage was achieved thanks to the bravery of one woman. However, there is still much progress to be made as men continue to hold positions of power and receive the greatest benefits in economic, social, and political domains in many societies worldwide. This disparity is evident in the fact that out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, only 12 have a female head of government. Those who argue against the existence of a male-dominated society can find ample supporting evidence through similar observations.
Despite not being currently ongoing, the male-centric society has been worse in the past. Nevertheless, recent movements such as #MeToo and widespread frustration express a growing push for gender equality. This leads us to inquire about the reasons behind the existence and persistence of a male-centric society. Various factors like political, social, and economic explanations contribute to this phenomenon. However, delving into these questions from a scientific perspective - specifically examining the evolutionary roots of inequality and the psychology of gender, sex, and power - offers valuable insight. In Western societies, gender roles have rapidly transformed due to societal shifts such as economic changes that have impacted employment dynamics and
enabled more women to enter the workforce. Furthermore, pressure for change has been driven by perceiving traditional social structures as discriminatory.
The process of socialization entails teaching young individuals the proper values and behaviors for their societal roles, including sexual relationships. These roles are changing in American society, which continues to grapple with sexism. Nevertheless, progress is being achieved as both men and women collaborate to confront it. While there isn't a universal solution to sexism, actively displaying kindness towards each other and acknowledging the issue can significantly reduce its occurrence in the United States.
Employers should provide education to their employees about addressing sexism in the workplace for their own advantage.
