- Sexist attitudes are attitudes that see individuals solely because of their gender as being less than their male and female counterparts.
- We can distinguish between overt and institutional sexisms. Overt sexism is the intentional discrimination against a person because of that person’s gender e.g. if a person is denied a job because that person is a male or female, that is an act of overt sexism.
- In contrast, institutional sexism occurs when a person is (perhaps intentionally) discriminated against because of factors that pertain to that person’s gender e.g some college sports such as basketball and football, women may be under represented if teams were open to both male and female applicants. If athletic scholarship money was given only to those who made the team, the indirect result would be that far fewer women would receive athletic scholarship than men.
- Although there may be no intent to discriminate in athletic scholarships against women, the net result might be precisely such institutional sexism.
- One of the more contentious areas of discussion in regard to sexism is language
There are two distinct aspects of this issue:
- The gendered structure of our language.
- Its specific vocabulary.
- In regard to linguistic structure, many have pointed out that English, like many other languages, is gendered, we often are forced by our language to identify a person as either male or female, even when we don’t know the persons gender.
- Since the masculine gender is the default gender in cases where we don’t know, we usually supply the masculine pronouns and adjectives e.g. instead of talking of ‘The pioneer rode on his or her wagon’, we talk of the pioneer rode on his wagon there by giving a wrong impression that only men were pioneers.
- Advocates of a gender-neutral language have tried with only partial success to encourage us to have language in gender neutral ways.
- Sexist vocabulary abounds in our language. Some times it is rooted in differential perceptions; a man is seen as assertive and when a woman behaves in the same way is seen as aggressive.
- Overt discrimination, where a woman is denied a job or a promotion solely because she is a woman or is paid less than her male counterparts in the same job has decreased significantly in recent years. Equal pay for equal work has become one of our accepted ideals.
- One of the more subtle ways in which sex discrimination occurs is when predominantly female occupations are paid less than comparable occupations whose employees are predominantly male e.g. plumbers and truck drivers versus cleaning staff and secretaries
- It is important to note that it is often insufficient simply to pass legislation prohibiting something like sex discrimination unless there is a monitoring and enforcement structure to implement legislation. The impact of the legislation can be undermined if there is insufficient funding for implementation.
Wilfykil answered the question on March 13, 2019 at 13:13
- What is the Catholic arguments on the use of contraceptives?(Solved)
What is the Catholic arguments on the use of contraceptives?
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- What are the biblical teachings about birth control?(Solved)
What are the biblical teachings about birth control?
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss thinking Biblically about birth control(Solved)
Discuss thinking Biblically about birth control
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss Vasectomy as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons(Solved)
Discuss Vasectomy as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss Progestin-only Oral Contraceptives as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons(Solved)
Discuss Progestin-only Oral Contraceptives as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss Injectable Contraceptives as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons(Solved)
Discuss Injectable Contraceptives as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss Oral Contraceptives as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons(Solved)
Discuss Oral Contraceptives as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss Female Sterilization as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons(Solved)
Discuss Female Sterilization as a method of family planning and give its pros and cons
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- What are the reasons for debating on Euthanasia?(Solved)
What are the reasons for debating on Euthanasia?
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss Pro Euthanasia Arguments(Solved)
Discuss Pro Euthanasia Arguments
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Which are the Reasons against Euthanasia?(Solved)
Which are the Reasons against Euthanasia?
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss Euthanasia as understood in religion and science(Solved)
Discuss Euthanasia as understood in religion and science
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Which are the disadvantages of Genetic Engineering?(Solved)
Which are the disadvantages of Genetic Engineering?
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- What are the Applications of Genetic Engineering?(Solved)
What are the Applications of Genetic Engineering?
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of Genetically Modified Organisms?(Solved)
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Genetically Modified Organisms?
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss the moral Issues of Cloning as argued by religionists(Solved)
Discuss the moral Issues of Cloning as argued by religionists
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- What are the reasons why church is against In vitro fertilization?(Solved)
What are the reasons why church is against In vitro fertilization?
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss the advantages and risks of In Vitro Fertilization(Solved)
Discuss the advantages and risks of In Vitro Fertilization
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss the Concept of person-hood in religion and scientific view of point(Solved)
Discuss the Concept of person-hood in religion and scientific view of point
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)
- Discuss religion and the use of dangerous weapons(Solved)
Discuss religion and the use of dangerous weapons
Date posted: March 13, 2019. Answers (1)