Women--how have you experienced sexism?

Question

My childhood had a lot of sexism. My dad is a handy man and would only teach my brothers how to be handy around the house and not me. Also, they had more freedom, like later curfews and could hang out with anyone.

Answer 1

In high school I wanted to be an architect. I was discouraged by being told that architecture is a male dominated field and that I would be prevented from becoming one because the men in charge would not hire a female.

Also upon meeting my neighbor (a man) for the first time he assumed I was a secretary because he had seen me going to work in professional clothes.

I was also a very fast runner when I was younger and at school the teacher's were having us race against each other. I was the first one to cross the finish line, but they declared the boy in second place as the winner.

Lots of other examples, those are just a few.

Answer 2

Since I'm 49, I had different types of sexism, like a couple of other people-had to take home-ec, not shop. We didn't have girls sports like basketball or volleyball available, just track. No one cared if girls took math or science, since you were going to get married anyway. Parents, teachers, and guidance counselors wanted you to get a gender "appropriate" job like nurse or teacher.

I liked outdoor stuff, but some of my teachers and fellow students thought I was looking for an MRS degree, not a degree to work outdoors. I worked outdoors during the summers, but decided to go into computers, since I wanted to have a skill. My instructors were very supportive at my community college and I Ioved it. Only 1/3 of computer programmers were and are women, but I usually was treated great by people my age, it was just a few sexist people who were older that were the problem (both male and female). I was sexually harassed at my first programming job, but after that, I saw both men and women harassed, but I wasn't.

One of the harshest things about college was finding out how many women had been raped in high school and in college, when they were drunk, drugged, or gotten drunk by "friends", usually friends of friends. Of course, none of these women went to the police. Usually they were afraid to even tell their friends, they blamed themselves and thought others would too.

Answer 3

When I was in high school, girls couldn't take shop classes but had to take home economics. They often were discouraged from taking math classes because they would not be able to find a husband if they acted too smart. Then there was the steering by guidance counselors towards what they considered to be gender appropriate careers such as secretary, teacher, nurse, beautician, or seamstress. I also can recall seeing classified ads in newspapers saying "Help Wanted - Men" and "Help Wanted - Women". This was less than 30 years ago so it's not as long ago as many people would like to believe.

Answer 4

I only had one sister so I cannot relate to your experience in the home. I am a very petite woman and believe I am often looked at as weaker or less capable as a result. I have always attributed this to being a result of my size,. But it could very well because of being a woman as well.

Answer 5

Believe it or not once my, this is over here in Saudi Arabia, husband and I had gone into a Baskin and Robbins, the place was completely empty, to sit down and eat some ice cream; the next thing I know I'm told to leave. So you know what I did I took my dish of ice cream and blasted it right in his face, turned around and both "Sam" and I walked out; we never stepped foot in that place again.

Answer 6

Yes. In high school, I've had a guy come up from behind and grab me in the crotch. It was so quick, I couldn't tell who it was. My friend that was with me, show me little sympathy. Its like its something that I just have to learn to deal with because there is nothing I can do about it. I've had guys slap my behind and I've walked away crying because there was nothing I could do about it. Its usually in a public setting and a group of guys and they just laugh...

That is the extent of the physical aspects. In my high school history class, we were talking about a woman running for president and the guys just laughed so hard and were like definitely no way. I refer to them as the group of morons now, but even though I think the way women are viewed has a changed, I think many still do consider a woman to be too delicate to handle important issues.

In my family, I have a very paranoid mom and overprotective dad, so everyone gets the same amount of insane treatment. I think my older brother gets a lot more respect for me, even though he's a hermit (literally) and I've just finished college. Maybe because of my depression they think I'm less likely to succeed in life. I don't know...

Answer 7

I'm a truck driver. There is a lot of sexism out here. Men who do not like women driving. Its tough sometimes. but, I have been out there seven years. More women are out here driving now also. I teach them to drive big rigs.

Answer 8

In tenth grade, I had a playful argument with a friend of a friend. After I left, he referred to me as a "Jewish b__ch with big t__s." I was offended on both a racial and sexual level. I went to the admin and they made him apologize.

Answer 9

Yeah, you hear it all the time, that women can't do this and that, because we are women, that we should speak when spoken to, be seen and not heard... all that crap! I let it slide off my back I could care less!

Answer 10

I`ve been sexually harassed multiple times and then, when I talk about it, I`m often told that I must`ve been `asking for it` by wearing the ever-racy jeans and t-shirt combo or maybe by my actions. Shopping and doing volunteer work are apparently hobbies of the temptress. cough.