Identifying and Combating Sexism in Daily Life

Sexism is a form of prejudice or discrimination rooted in assumptions about a person’s sex or gender identity.

There are multiple manifestations of sexism, each carrying potential harm.

This guide provides essential steps to:

• Recognize sexism affecting yourself or others
• Address sexist behavior when safe to do so
• Manage the emotional and psychological effects of sexism for self-care

Who is most impacted by sexism?

While women and girls are predominantly affected, transgender and nonbinary individuals also face sexism.

For instance, nonbinary people might encounter bias based on assumptions tied to their birth-assigned sex.

Sexism intersecting with transphobia, known as transmisogyny, often targets trans individuals who do not conform to traditional gender norms, combining discrimination based on both gender identity and expression.

Key forms of sexism

Sexism primarily appears in six forms:

Hostile Sexism

This explicit type of sexism aims to preserve male dominance.

Individuals exhibiting hostile sexism may:

• View men as superior to women
• Accuse women of manipulating men through seduction
• Perceive those rejecting traditional gender roles as threats to societal values

Research from 2019 links hostile sexism to increased risks of sexual harassment and violence against women.

Examples include:

• Blaming victims of assault based on their attire or behavior
• Deriding women pursuing careers in male-dominated fields
• Harassing those who defy gender norms
• Mocking girls playing with traditionally male toys or boys with female toys
• Labeling emotional women as "hysterical" or assertive women as "bossy"

Benevolent Sexism

Despite its seemingly positive label, benevolent sexism can cause significant harm by reinforcing traditional gender roles.

It often stems from the belief that women are inherently delicate and need protection.

This form discourages women from challenging patriarchal norms and can suppress leadership ambitions, as shown in a 2015 study.

It tends to be subtle and socially accepted, examples include:

• Praising stereotypically feminine traits like nurturing
• Offering unsolicited help implying women are incapable
• Insisting on chivalrous acts such as escorting women home
• Encouraging prioritization of family over career goals
• Reinforcing "positive" stereotypes such as women being naturally tidy or beautiful

Ambivalent Sexism

This combines hostile and benevolent sexism, holding contradictory views that women are both pure and manipulative.

Examples include:

• Enforcing unrealistic beauty standards
• Judging women’s character by their clothing
• Reacting negatively when sexual advances are rejected
• Criticizing non-traditional feminine behavior as "unladylike"

Interpersonal Sexism

Occurs in everyday interactions with partners, friends, family, colleagues, or strangers.

It involves direct judgments or condescending remarks based on gender stereotypes, often disguised as humor.

Examples:

• Accusing someone of not being "ladylike"
• Making sexist jokes
• Excusing sexism with phrases like "boys will be boys"
• Ignoring or invalidating women’s ideas due to gender

Internalized Sexism

Repeated exposure to sexism can lead individuals to adopt sexist beliefs about themselves.

This may reduce resistance to oppression and even lead to participation in sexist behavior as a coping mechanism.

Examples include:

• Feeling incompetent based on gender
• Making jokes that demean one’s own gender
• Reinforcing harmful stereotypes
• Deriving self-worth solely from appearance
• Encouraging traditional gender roles among peers
• Engaging in harmful behaviors to conform to gender ideals

Institutional Sexism

This occurs when organizations and systems, such as media, healthcare, law enforcement, education, religion, and finance, perpetuate sexist ideologies.

It manifests in policies, hiring practices, and cultural norms that disadvantage certain genders.

Institutional sexism can be hostile, benevolent, or ambivalent and often fuels internalized sexism.

Examples include:

• Gender pay gap: women earned 84% of men’s earnings in 2020 (Pew Research)
• Underrepresentation of women in leadership and politics
• Lower reimbursement rates for female-specific medical procedures
• Fewer loan approvals for female entrepreneurs
• Media shaming of women balancing career and motherhood

Origins of Sexism

Sexism arises from various sources:

• Traditional gender role beliefs passed down by family and education
• Laws that treat genders unequally
• Sexist portrayals and language in media and pop culture
• Normalization of harassment and sexist humor leading to desensitization
• Lack of effective policies addressing sexism in workplaces and schools

Anyone, regardless of gender, can perpetuate or be affected by sexism.

Consequences of Sexism

Sexism negatively impacts health, career, relationships, and overall life quality.

• Mental Health: Women perceiving workplace gender discrimination report worse mental health and higher depression rates (2018-2020 studies).
• Physical Health: Discrimination correlates with poorer physical health and inadequate treatment of women’s chronic pain.
• Job Satisfaction: Sexism leads to feelings of isolation, reducing job satisfaction.
• Relationships: Hostile sexism from partners is linked to more severe relationship problems and lower satisfaction.

Strategies to Address Sexism

Responding to sexism depends on context and safety considerations.

You are never obligated to confront sexism if it jeopardizes your safety.

For casual sexist remarks, calmly asking questions like, "What makes you say that?" can prompt reflection without confrontation.

With close relations, direct communication using "I" statements and setting clear boundaries is effective:

• "I feel uncomfortable when I hear sexist comments; please avoid them around me."
• "That language isn’t acceptable to me."
• "If sexist jokes continue, I will leave."

In workplaces, reporting incidents to human resources may be necessary if direct confrontation is unsafe.

Recognizing internal biases is key to overcoming unconscious sexism.

Therapy can aid in identifying and changing sexist thought patterns.

• Understanding underlying causes
• Developing healthier beliefs
• Building assertiveness

Seeking Support

When exposed to persistent sexism, professional support is invaluable.

Benefits of Therapy

Therapists can:

• Teach coping strategies
• Guide responses to sexist behavior
• Help communicate impacts to loved ones

Specialized approaches like feminist therapy focus on addressing discrimination-related stress, fostering self-esteem, and dismantling internalized sexism.

Feminist therapy is inclusive and beneficial for all gender identities.

Conclusion

Sexism manifests in many ways, from everyday interactions to systemic biases, affecting all genders.

Its effects on well-being and life satisfaction are profound but can be mitigated through awareness, support, and action.

Professional help is a valuable resource for those impacted by sexism to reclaim their health and relationships.

Read this article in Spanish.

Rebecca Strong is a Boston-based freelance writer specializing in health, wellness, lifestyle, and beauty. Her work appears in Insider, Bustle, StyleCaster, Eat This Not That, AskMen, and Elite Daily.

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