Sexism

Definition

Sexism is the belief that one gender is inherently superior to another, leading to discrimination and prejudice based on gender. It often manifests in social, political, and economic inequalities where one gender, typically women, faces disadvantages. This belief system fuels various movements aimed at advocating for gender equality and combating discriminatory practices.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The National Organization for Women (NOW) was founded in 1966 to advocate for women's rights and combat sexism through legal reform, public policy, and grassroots activism.
2. Sexism can be both overt, such as in laws or policies that discriminate against women, and subtle, like ingrained societal norms that perpetuate gender inequality.
3. The rise of the Religious Right in the late 20th century often reinforced traditional gender roles and opposed feminist movements, viewing them as a threat to family values.
4. Sexism intersects with other forms of discrimination, including racism and classism, which can exacerbate the challenges faced by marginalized groups.
5. Legislative advancements aimed at promoting gender equality often face backlash from groups that uphold traditional gender norms and resist changes associated with feminism.

Review Questions

• How did organizations like the National Organization for Women (NOW) work to challenge sexism during their early years?
  • Organizations like NOW played a pivotal role in challenging sexism by advocating for equal rights through legislative changes, public campaigns, and grassroots organizing. They addressed issues such as workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, and equal pay. By mobilizing women and allies across the nation, NOW sought to create awareness about systemic sexism and push for policies that would promote gender equality.
• In what ways did the rise of the Religious Right impact perceptions and attitudes toward gender roles and sexism in American society?
  • The rise of the Religious Right had a significant impact on perceptions of gender roles by promoting traditional values that often reinforced sexist attitudes. This movement pushed back against feminist progress by advocating for a return to conventional family structures and opposing policies that supported women's rights. As a result, the Religious Right framed feminism as detrimental to society, leading to increased polarization around issues of gender equality.
• Evaluate the long-term effects of sexism on both individual lives and broader societal structures in modern America.
  • The long-term effects of sexism on individual lives include persistent wage gaps, limited access to leadership roles for women, and heightened vulnerability to violence and harassment. Societally, sexism underpins structures like the patriarchy that maintain unequal power dynamics across various sectors. The ongoing struggle against sexism has prompted reforms aimed at promoting equality; however, its deep-rooted nature means that true parity remains an ongoing challenge requiring sustained advocacy and societal change.

Related terms

feminism:

A social and political movement that advocates for the rights and equality of women in various aspects of life, aiming to challenge and dismantle systems of sexism.

gender roles:

Socially constructed roles that dictate how individuals should behave based on their gender, often perpetuating stereotypes that contribute to sexism.

patriarchy: A social system in which men hold primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, and control of property, contributing to systemic sexism.