Is Sexism Sexist?

When someone mentions sexism, what immediately pops into your head? Is it men being reprimanded by their commanding wives? I doubt it… Or is it women being obligated to spend their days cooking, cleaning and being at their husbands beck and call while he relaxes on the sofa? I think that sexism itself has become associated with old-fashioned, stereotypical views of women, rather than the dictionary definition, ‘Discrimination based on gender.’

The 1950’s exhibited some of the worst discrimination to women the world has ever seen. However, some of these outdated views are still in play in the 21st century. In advertising especially, there are a huge number of sexist campaigns which degrade and dismiss women. For example the Diesel advert, (pictured) shows women dressed in expensive fur coats, trapped in cages and grabbing for the men outside. The men are confident and dismissive of the women, as they’re turned away. This advert gives two, both equally sexist takes on women. The first is that women are objects, dressed in beautiful clothes to be picked, used and disposed of, as if they’re consumable goods. There is no concern for them as human beings; they are only there to service the men. The second is that women are animals. They’re locked up like they can’t be trusted, they are desperately reaching out for the men in the advert, like dogs fawning over their owners; this suggests that the men own the women. The men in the advert look amused by the women, like they’re pets. There are eight women in the cages, this implies that one woman isn’t enough for a man; eight females are needed to match up to him. Overall this advert is a sickening display of modern prejudice.

On the other hand, discrimination against men has hardly been seen in the last or this century. Researching a balanced piece on sexism is almost impossible in this day and age. Searching sexist advertising into a search engine reports back hundreds of adverts discriminating against women, however I can count on one hand the amount of adverts I found that were discriminating against men. Even worse, men play up to these stereotypes, they catcall ladies in the streets and feel obliged to command all D.I.Y jobs. Catcalling has gone from a harmless ritual to becoming almost aggressive in cases – this is where the question comes into play, Creepy or a Compliment? Research from stopthestreetharassment.com a few years ago found that 95 per cent of female respondents reported some form of street harassment while going about their daily lives.This means that gender discrimination is becoming woven further into today’s society, therefore making it harder to dispel it completely. Furthermore, I also think that sexism is prominent in schools. I asked 14 year-old Laura what the most sexist thing that happens in schools is, ‘Boys get more flexibility in their choice of sports and the attention and practice that they get. Girls are never considered their equal, in the sporting world especially.’

In conclusion I think that sexism has been spun from gender discrimination to an unpleasant perception of women typecasts. Men use women as tools to impress or objects to use, and despite little evidence that women are stupid, slow or senseless, men still feel the responsibility to degrade and lower their position in society.

Hatty Tagart - Reigate Grammar School