Have you ever experienced discrimination, because of your gender.?

Answer 1

As an American I never experienced it in the States; although, on one occassion or two I experinced it in Riyadh (I'm living in Saudi Arabia) where I wasn't allowed in a tape store with my own husband, because women were no allowed, Another time was in Mecca where women are not allowed in the restaurants (only Mecca does this) there for the men only. I don't have a hankering to drive (had my license; the whole enchilada) as most probably know women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia (only) and the excuses that they come up with: The best being she might get a flat tire and become stranded, have no strength to change it her self was the mildest, yet wait until you hear the latest (perhaps you better sit down) well, I was told through the grapevine that if a woman gets a flat tire, she flattened the tire on purpose so she could stop a man to have sex with her.(rolling my eyes). Now I ask you what woman in her right mind and or man in his right mind would hav sex on their mind when there they are with a flat tire on a busy highway..

Answer 2

Yes, on many occations.

A company hired two new employees to take care of a particular project. I was one of them, the other one was a man. At first we didn't have specific roles or titles. We were introduced to the project and started working on it. I did 90% of the work. The man who I was working with didn't seem to even know where to start, he was completely incompetent and didn't understand what we were supposed to do. He did very little for the first part of the project. Two weeks later we handed that first part in and our bosses really liked it. A couple of days later we received our roles and titles. The man was the Project Coordinator and I was the Project Coordinator Assistant. Wow, I did most of the work and I get to be the assistant of the guy who did practically nothing? The whole time we worked for that company our bosses knew that I was doing most of the work, yet they never changed a thing. I'd hand in a project, then they'd discuss it with that man who barely had a clue what the project was about and then I would continue developing it while he spent his days e-mailing his buddies.

I also used to work in a shop that sells car parts. Most customers who came or phoned started out by asking me if there wasn't a man around. They didn't even give me the chance to show if I could take care of what they needed. I was just as capable of doing this work as the man who worked there, but most people just assumed that since I'm a woman I don't have a clue about anything related to cars.

I once had a car accident. I stopped at a red light, but the car behind me had been driving too fast and too close, so he crashed into the back of my car. Naturally, me being the woman and him being the man it was all my fault. Everybody knows that women can't drive, right? The insurance company and even my family first assumed that it had been my mistake before they even knew what exactly had happened.

When it comes to doing something to my car everyone assumes that it's pointless to discuss it with me so they talk to my husband about it, only to find out that he doesn't even know how to fill on the oil and it's I who takes care of all maintenance.

I could go on and on with examples of discrimination and sexism that I've encountered in my life. Sexism is very much alive.

Answer 3

Many times. Mostly it is subtle. Sometimes not so subtle.

The male bosses being chummy with the guys but not the ladies. (hindering the development of professional relationships that might eventually lead to promotion). The waiter giving the bill to the man at the table. Men referring to adult females as "girl" even when the women are in their 30s or older. (This is most frustrating when a black man says it, since part of the civil rights fight was for them to not be called "boy" anymore.) The media is full of images of the perfect woman being a housewife with kids. Jokes and comments about Hillary not being presidential just because she's a woman. Jokes and comments about feminists who want equal opportunities for both men and women.

I also get asked all the time..... "does your husband approve of your riding a bike?" And, "where is your husband?" None of my male biker buddies get asked those questions in reverse. It's not discrimination exactly, but there's a sexist thought that leads to the question.

When I was looking at a new car in a dealer's lot, the salesman literally walked right by me and up to my male friend who was on the other side of the car and asked how he could help. When my friend pointed to me and said that I was the customer, the salesman nodded at me and then continued talking just to my friend.

Here's a work example..... This happened to me in 1993. I had been at the company for two years and had prior related job experience and education. They hired a guy to be my counterpart. It was his first job. He got paid $10k more than me. (I saw the payroll report by accident.)

When I asked my boss why, he said it was because the guy had a wife and kids to support.

When I threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit, I all of a sudden got a $10k raise. But, considering that I had seniority, more related job experience and education, I still felt ripped off. I should have been paid more than the new kid on the block. Additionally, the company portrayed me as the bad guy in the situation.

I could go on with many other examples .....

Answer 4

My mother began working at the US Post Office in 1969 as a city letter carrier. She would have preferred to stay at home with her four children but needed the health insurance offered at the USPS.
My mother, along with 4 other women, was the first group of women letter carriers. They were not well received by the men they worked along side. The men would prepare the mail and place it in a big shoulder bag for the women. They couldn't know until they had delivered most of the mail, that bricks had been placed in the bottom of the mailbag. Only two of the orginal five made it through probation because of such tactics.
Flash forward twenty years. I became an employee of the USPS. I worked as a clerk at the main facility. I could not believe that sexism was still so rampant twenty years later.
There were many more women working at the Post office but still not so well received.
Flash forward another twenty years. My husband and I were shopping at a local electronics store. Although the purchase was for me and was to be paid for by me, the salesman ignored me while focusing on my husband. Even if I asked a question, the salesman would respond to my husband.
Some things, it seems never change.

Answer 5

As a woman I have experienced a great deal of discrimination over the span of a number of years. I have noticed some improvement however I believe social attitudes change much slower than laws and perhaps when society becomes more educated around women and their contributions they will attain the respect that has been alloted to just males all these years. Women are equal in worth the problem is so many don't seem to be able to grast that concept and use all kinds of excuses such as physical strength and misinterpretations of the Bible to try and keep wome subordinate.
This era is coming to a close as females are realizing this indoctrination was grounded on myth and conjecture and the truth is what needs to be examined for freedom.

Answer 6

yes, quite a bit. here's a few examples off the top of my head...

i inquired about a job & was told that they didn't need anyone else, but then a male friend of mine was hired by them the next day.

also, i just got married a short time ago & added my husband to my car's insurance & they put him as the 'primary driver'.

at work when my boss changed (to one who now happens to be going to court for two different sexual harassment cases) i began getting only menial jobs while the men get regular tasks (like what i was doing before)-- and i'm the only one with a bachelor degree here (actually, i have 2. only one man has an associates).

not to mention the check thing that someone above mentioned-- i am the sole earner in my marriage but everyone assumes my husband is (makes him feel a bit awkward also, when they hand him the check & he has to hand it to me).

also, when i go to a hardware store w/my husband & i ask for something in particular, they talk to HIM when answering.

Answer 7

sexism exists, but there are other forms of discrimination that are much more prevalent. does anyone ever talking about discrimination based on looks or social status?

Answer 8

In high school, I was a very good volleyball player. During my first year of teaching, we were having faculty games. The team captains were guys, and were choosing guys . Girls were last chosen... including me. Later, they said... " Well. why didn't you tell us you could spike like that".
Six months later, we're having basketball games. They said, " Okay..., can you guard like you can spike". I said, " Sure can !!" What I didn't tell them is that, yes, I can guard .... but I also foul out of most games. I got kidded about that for months.

Answer 9

In a way. Back in ninth grade, I became friends with the biggest nerd this side of Weird Al. I've always been known as a brain, but he was quite a challenge for me. One day he told me that I was "the exact opposite of a typical girl." I didn't really know how to take that. The girls in my school are some of the smartest people I know.

Answer 10

What do you think? I was in the military for a long time and I have to admit some men didn't agree. I worked with this guy that reminded me all the time that women had no place in the Canadian Air Force. After working with him for a time he told me that I was slowly making him change his mind. I won. I was not trying to prove anything, I was just doing my job and pilots don't give a rat's @ss where the balls are, their safety depend on the competency of the crew. And that's all there is to it. Cheers!