Interpersonal sexism
This manifests during interactions with others. It can occur in the workplace, within relationships, among family members, and in interactions with strangers.
Examples of interpersonal sexism include:
- telling someone to be more ladylike
- judging someone for not fitting into stereotypes of femininity, such as by being caring or submissive
- making inappropriate comments about someone’s appearance
- talking down to someone based on assumptions about their gender
- engaging in unwanted sexual attention or touching
- justifying sexist behavior by saying “boys will be boys”
Internalized sexism
Internalized sexism refers to sexist beliefs that a person has about themselves. Usually, a person adopts these beliefs involuntarily as a result of exposure to sexist behavior or the opinions of others.
Internalized sexism may cause feelings of:
- incompetence
- self-doubt
- powerlessness
- shame
It also causes people to unintentionally collude with sexism.
Research suggests that the lower rate of women working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics may be due to internalized sexism. Studies have shown that sexist stereotypes affect academic performance. As many believe that boys are better than girls at math and science, this could cause a lack of confidence.
Some other examples of internalized sexism include:
- making self-deprecating jokes about one’s gender, such as “blonde jokes”
- someone basing their self-worth on how desirable they are in the eyes of men
- feeling ashamed of aspects of being female, such as having periods or female genitalia
- feeling that it is essential to conform to gender ideals, even if this means harming oneself, through restrictive dieting, for example
Summary
There are many types of sexism. This prejudice and discrimination can be hostile and overt or seemingly benevolent and more subtly harmful.
Many countries that consider themselves to be tolerant instead perpetuate a mixture of types, forming a system of ambivalent sexism.
All types of sexism are harmful to the health of society. To stop sexism, it is crucial to understand how it manifests and then to challenge sexist attitudes and practices at all levels — from the internal to the institutional.
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