Sexism is not simply prejudice, but rather the combination of prejudice and institutional power. Anyone, regardless of sex or gender, can have sexist prejudices, biases, or tendencies. However, in the United States, being male means having institutional power and privilege; therefore, sexism here is the systemized discrimination of women due to the societal belief that maleness is superior. Sexism in America is systemic because it plays a role in our institutions and society, whether we recognize it or not. To truly understand sexism is to also understand how it is embedded in institutional and cultural systems, rather than focusing on an individual's thinking or actions.
Women may sometimes be a party to systemic sexism, without intending to act in that manner. and simply because sexism is so ingrained in our institutions, cultures, and societies. For example, a female hiring manager who hires a man over a woman in a position that requires some physical labor.
Masculinity is not something that is often discussed when talking about sexism; however, the way that men are defined by societal stereotypes and expectations very much plays a role in the continuation of sexism today. From a young age, many males receive messages from society, family, educators, and the media on what it means to be a man and how men are expected to think, behave, and feel. Because of this, in order to curb the issue of sexism in today's society, many believe that it begins with redefining the idea of masculinity.
Battle Tactics for your Sexist Workplace
Yes, your workplace is sexist. Let's laugh/cry together while figuring out what we can do about it. We break down how sexism works in the modern workplace. And with help from some badass experts, we bring you real tactics you can use to fight back.
In the interest of full disclosure, the creator of and collaborators for this guide identify with some, but not all of the oppressed identities presented here. As members of the Penn College community, we strive to encourage diversity, inclusion, awareness, equality, and equity. While I have made an attempt to collect and present some of the more timely, relevant, and quality resources on the topics of oppression, I recognize that my collaborators and I are still susceptible to our own implicit biases, privilege, and perspectives. Given our own limited experiences, any thoughts, comments, or suggestions, particularly from members of any marginalized populations, are sincerely welcomed and greatly appreciated.