3.4
Have I ever had sexist remarks made about me? If so how did it make me feel? I feel that I’ve grown up in a sexist world with the conditioning that comes from that. My parents never placed importance on my career when I was a child in the 60’s/70’s. They tended to focus on my brothers careers. I grew up believing that my career choices were not important. My father always said though, ‘I just want you to be happy’. They had a strong work ethic and instilled that in us all. I don’t really remember just one incident. I feel it’s been many occasions over time, I do know that it doesn’t feel good to be treated differently because of my gender. And I don’t know if it’s because I’m used to it or I don’t experience it so much now. If it did happen now I would certainly notice and I would say something in most circumstances.
Why are women the predominate victims of sexism? Another good question, my concept of this comes from the way societal structures, laws, and indoctrinated behaviours are a part of our lives now. It wasn’t always like this throughout history and in all cultures. We just happen to find ourselves here now.
Why do I think people make sexist remarks? This is such a complex question. Of course it’s due to unconscious behaviour through the indoctrination of a society that has allowed and promoted this type of behaviour through our history. It happens because there is a lack of education, empathy, awareness, there is a culture of their behaviour.
How do we stop sexism? I don’t believe that sexism is up to me to stop. Though it is very much up to me not to perpetuate it. It’s my responsibility as a woman to not behave towards men and other gendered people in a way that is sexist. To ask them personally who they are and about their gender identity and not for me to presume I know who they are and how it is for them. My own sense of inclusion, kindness, empathy, and ability to communicate through asking. Asking is way more appropriate than presuming.
It is also important to me to not be sexist towards my own gender and make presumptions there. My aunty that is 94 this year, she grew up in another time. She obviously has a biased sense of gender fairness. She preferences men over women often. I find this so incredibly interesting and in my own way I have shared how uncomfortable this is for me. We’ve had lots of discussion about this. Her age and life experience is different from mine so I am deeply respectful of her outlook. So it’s up to me to be understanding and also to explain how to be correcting in some situations.
We went to the movies to see the Enclave. Before this she was speaking negatively about trans people, I might add that she’s lived in the USA and has been a Trump supporter. So she has been exposed to negative rhetoric in many areas. However the Enclave changed some of her thinking. I won’t ruin the movie for who ever is reading this but the outcome of the movie graciously changed her mind on that occasion. I had tears in my eyes when she made the realisation that all people are Gods people. (A reference to the movie, and it was what softened her thinking and heart) not my words but the movies words that changed her vision.
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