Tbh this post is more just a call to all the gals here. You have and will be told again and again to be quiet about sexism! That you're actually privileged to be a woman, and that men have it so much worse. I think we can all agree after reading even a few of the responses to
As a girl, I witness sexism on a daily. From getting catcalls by strangers on the street, hearing guys playfully call each other female-degrading comments for a little extra spice, or being called a variety of misogynistic slurs because I don't want to have sex with someone. It's disappointing, but far from shocking, that there are still people who deny the existence of sexism.
Every day, women are sexually harassed, catcalled, and have inappropriate phrases thrown at them. Every day, women are pressured into shaping their bodies to look "better" for a male-dominated society. Women are raped and sexually assaulted, and to respond, their communities turn their backs on them saying that it was "their fault" or "it isnāt appropriate to talk about". Why? That guy had a promising future, duh!
For thousands of years, women have been discriminated against. We've been exploited again, and again, for something we can't change. Just because we've gained some rights in some places doesn't mean sexism is solved.
If sexism had truly been solved, girls wouldn't be expected to use their bodies as payment for a nice platonic interaction. Nigerian women aren't allowed to visit nice restaurants or hotels on their own. Those same women aren't allowed to because if they're alone, it's assumed they're sex workers. Because women couldn't be single by choice, right?
On top of that, women constantly have to deal with the unhealthy and dangerous beauty standards of the world. In a 2002 study, Fijian girls were introduced to western television. Previously, the favored female body type was larger, viewing it as a sign of health. But, when they were introduced to western television, the girls began to hate their bodies and wish to look more like the women in the western world. Some of them developed eating disorders like anorexia in an attempt to drastically change their appearances. With social media becoming an everyday part of many people's lives, it creates new opportunities for harassment and unhealthy trends.
Online, women are subjected to constant harassment. We deal with constant horny DMs, or the opposite, people calling us slurs because we're too "ugly" to post photos ourselves. Young girls constantly scroll through videos and pictures of other girls and women who encourage them to get fit or go on diets because "that's how they got their looks". Today's beauty standards cause young girls to crave a different body because their online role models are all thin and have well-defined bodies.
From a young age, our would is guiding girls to use their bodies as advertisements. One study showed that 89% of girls by the age of 17 have somehow "dieted" and 50% of young girls develop unhealthy weight controlling habits. On top of that, 69% of girls ages 10 to 18 admit to having seen pictures of thin models and celebrities and desiring that same body.
It's sexism because women have been objectified to the point where women are being told to change their bodies because it will somehow be better for them and the world will be a better place. Young girls and women look to the media for role models and all they see are thin and "perfect" women. The pressure women face and the lack of diversity in the media is sexism! Less than beautiful women can't get those leading parts because the casting calls for a "beautiful girl" and sorry, but you're just not that.
It's not surprising that women also face sexually-charged discrimination. There's a widespread belief of nice interactions are sexual transactions. Where the guy did something helpful or nice, and instead of that just meaning he's a good guy, the girl is expected to pay him with her body.
There are plenty of people who play into the odd idea that men and women can't be friends without wanting to have sex or date. I think most ladies can say that they have at least a few male friends who they didn't become friends with just so they could pursue him sexually. Same with men! Even when we're in relationships, some boyfriends expect us to drop all our male friends out of "protectiveness". When in reality, it's possessiveness and a pathetic lack of trust in their girlfriends.
Despite that, if a girl calls more than a few times a day, she's seen as clingy. If a girl doesn't seem interested, she's just playing too hard to get and she is interested. If a girl says no during sex, she doesn't mean it. A guy who's sexually active and single is a playboy while a girl who's single and sexually active is a promiscuous whore.
On top of that, girls are expected all their body hair to be more sexually presentable. Shaving can be a real pain, especially if you're someone with hypersensitive skin, or who constantly gets ingrown hair after shaving. Besides, no one has the right to tell you what is and isn't acceptable when it comes to your body. Shaving is such a small thing! š¤Ŗ
Single women are "raging feminists" or "big-headed," while married or dating women are supposed to bend over backward for their husband/boyfriend's every request. If he wants children, it's only natural that you put your body through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum side effects. If your jobs don't allow you to properly care for your child, you should be a stay-at-home mom even if you don't want to.
At the same time, if you're a stay-at-home mom, the other side thinks you're lazy! We just don't get a break from double standards, do we?
Some women, just like men, are career-driven, others aren't. If we really strive to empower the voices of women and girls across the world, we can reach that point where sexism is solved. Sure, maybe we won't fully be able to change the world in a day but, we can all be better people and be more understanding to help and prevent sexism in our community. š
A Brighter Future š„°āļø
There is some blue sky in the future. Slowly but surely, society is changing. Women are slowly being lifted up to the same level as men. Right now it seems like we're backsliding in the US legislative system, and we are. But as of now, there's never been a stronger fight for women's rights.
Groups are raising their voices to fight back against new US anti-abortion laws. Protests are being held to change laws that still haven't been changed. The people are demanding change and slowly, the world is changing as a result.
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