Before I start this discussion, I just want to apologize in advance for some of this material to those of you who may find this topic offensive. The purpose of the post is to shed some light on sexism in popular culture and media, and, of course, to serve as a platform for comments and feedback.



I’m Russian, and sexism isn’t really considered a big issue in my country, because it is accepted as normal (be it in the workplace or at home); however, my family immigrated to America when I was 11, and for the last 13 years I have learned to understand it from both the androcentric and gynocentric perspectives. Of course, as a woman, I wish we could all just get along as equals, but if we’re still making jokes about sexism, we’re not ready to take that leap. I’m not bitter or angry when it comes to this issue – before we can really start making strides, I think we should all take a look at what’s out there and have a good laugh, think, and take action.

Q: Why did the woman cross the road?
A: Wait, better question, why is she out of the kitchen!?

Q: Why don’t women need drivers licenses?
A: There is no road between the bedroom and the kitchen.

Q: How many men does it take to open a beer?
A: None, it should be opened when she brings it to you.

So… women are stupid, incapable, and subservient. Big whoop, wanna fight about it? (sorry, I couldn’t help it!). This kind of outdated thinking stems from centuries upon centuries of tradition, entrenched in religion, education, and of course, basic physiology. Technically, the women’s rights and suffrage movement is a really new concept considering how long women occupied their inferior role throughout history. No wonder it has been met with resistance from both men and women since inception; we’re still in the very early stage of making gender equality a reality. Here are a couple of reasons why:



1. Women say the darndest things… Friedrich Nietzsche once said that “stupidity in a woman is unwomanly,” and I wholeheartedly agree.

Unfortunately, news and television, which revolve around the lives of celebrities (and reality personalities), perpetuate the stereotype that women should stay away from “serious” conversation.

Jessica Simpson on Anorexia
“I’m not anorexic. I’m from Texas. Are there people from Texas that are anorexic? I’ve never heard of one. And that includes me.”

Sen. Barbara Boxer on the San Francisco Earthquake
“Those who survived the San Francisco earthquake said, “Thank God, I’m still alive.” But, of course, those who died, their lives will never be the same again.”

Sarah Palin on Politics
“I’m the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can’t.”

Naomi Campbell on Race Acceptance
“I look at [modeling] as something I’m doing for black people in general.”

Madonna on Religion
“[I hope] my child will be a good Catholic like me.”

Brooke Shields on Smoking
“Smoking kills. If you’re killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life”

2. Marry me before I get too old! Social and economic pressure, as well as class and religious constraints have forced females to seek out marriage as the ultimate fulfillment of their existence. For a very long time, because of a lack of education and very meager career prospects, a woman’s greatest hope was to find a good working husband.

Marriage is a sacred partnership based on love, trust, and mutual respect, and is not a means of escaping responsibility or potential hardship. Though the clip is very old (and very funny in today’s context), women still continue to define themselves through marriage, despite the institution’s incredible evolution through the last century (See Women Choose Marriage in a Tough Economy and The Evolution of Marriage Law).

Nor is marriage a standard to be pursued in order to measure one’s self worth. From Emily Dickenson to Oprah Winfrey, many women who have not married have had rich and fulfilling lives (contrary to the nature of the derogatory ‘spinster’ and ‘cougar’ labels). Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting a family, loving a man, or seeking happiness in a long-term commitment – however, I think that the most fulfilling relationships are a product of hard work and realistic expectations (not flowery, romantic ideals and ‘white knight’ fantasies).



3. Just another dumb blonde. We are all a part of a certain unspoken class system dictated by stereotypes – our skin color, ethnicity, hair, eyes, teeth, and height (not to mention our house, car, graduate school, friends, and family) make us subject to unfair prejudice.

For women specifically, appearance has always served as an identity regardless of personality, character, or intelligence. Blonds are stupid; brunettes are smart; redheads are sensual; and big breasts are always the icing on the cake.



4. Quit being a bitch, man. Sexism goes both ways: a man is expected to be assertive and commanding, just as a woman is expected to be flighty and weak.











Bill O’Reilley made a very sexist observation on one of his shows not too long ago, namely that single mothers contribute to the poverty line because they don’t have male breadwinners in the household. From an early age, men (just like women) are socialized to repress questioning their role at home, at work, and among peers. Whereas women are pressured to be beautiful and subservient, men are pressured to be the providers and protectors.



5. I’ll take off all of my clothes for a Pepsi. There is no way to avoid talking about physiology when it comes to sexism – did you know that advertising companies have developed a formula for the perfect breasts (See Dr. Petra Boynton’s post on Publicity Tricks)? It’s true.








According to some (ahem, Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, who said that “innate” differences in learning ability caused women to pursue fields other than math and science), the concept of absolute equality between genders is impossible.



6. Glass ceiling etc. Hillary Clinton has been groomed for her campaign in the 2008 Presidential election for quite some time, yet she was met with a sexist onslaught from the media that was quite horrific to behold. It was both comical and very sad.







I’m not going to pretend that Hillary didn’t dig her own grave to some extent as far as her Presidential candidacy, but I was flabbergasted by the extent of the teasing and petty jokes reporters used to pump their ratings. Sexism in the workplace is not a new issue. A 2004 Harris Poll found that 31% of all female workers had been harassed at work; according to a survey released by the Defense Dept., 34% of active-duty women in the U.S. armed forces reported having experienced sexual harassment. In 2006, sex discrimination accounted for 30.7% of the total charges brought to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The pay gap between men and women continues to be wide—a 31% difference 10 years after college graduation.



I believe that men and women can never be completely equal, but there should be no reason why men and women are not allowed the same respect, education, opportunities, and compensation.



Sources:
YouTube.com
UnderstandingPrejudice.com
Don’t Marry a Career Woman – Forbes
Women’s Media Center
Challenging Racism & Sexism
Hillary: Sexism or Self-Sabotage? – BusinessWeek