by Cassandra Campos
Growing up a Disney Fanatic, I often spent most of my childhood watching Disney movies and shows.
A very common factor included Prince Charming going to save the day and save the princess. As a 5-year-old, I saw nothing wrong with that, it was a fairytale, that’s what was supposed to happen.
As a teenager I started to realize that a man won’t always be there to save the day and save me from trouble. It was something I was going to have to do on my own. That’s when I realized what sexism was, stereotyping and or discrimination regarding a certain gender. Although this is something we now have better control over, it was very common during the 1900s.
Women were often excluded from many rights that men had, such as voting. Women didn’t have the right to vote until the 1920s. Men had been voting since before the 1900s. Women gained more rights during the 1900s such as the right to marry a foreigner and keep citizenship. They also gained equal rights to job listings, and women could finally seek damages for harassment in the workplace. Many of these rights are still not completely equal to rights men have, such as equal pay, but women have come a long way.
Sexism is no longer just towards females. It is now more common in males, intersexual and transgender people. Sexism is no longer a word that pertains to women only. “Sexism” now means equality for anyone and everyone to be what they want to be.
Men are usually seen as strong and brave. They’re seen as the head of the household and are supposed to fix everything that is wrong. They have to take care of themselves and look presentable, but when they seem to look too nice or go to different places to get taken care of they are often made fun of, because manicures and pedicures are only for women, right?
Men are often seen as weak for crying or showing emotions. Yet if a woman was to cry it would be completely OK. Men are also expected to work longer hours, rougher jobs, and make more than women. They are viewed as protectors, whether it be at home or in combat. During war they’re forced to go and serve, while women get to decide whether to serve or not. Women are so busy trying to get their rights that they forget that men are also treated unfairly.
Transgender and Intersexual people experience sexism from both males and females. Many people don’t see them as neither male nor female. They are treated unfairly and don’t have many rights. Same sex marriages were finally legal in 2015. Before that, many same-sex couples were seen as wrong and not acceptable in the public eye.
Many transgenders still have the same gender on their identification card and are not allowed to change it, or they have to go through a very long process in order to change it. Jobs are often denied to them, and when they go into interviews, they go through harassment or are made to feel uncomfortable.
Although, as a country, we have changed to make sure that we see less sexism, it is still common and something that can be avoided. Many movements have taken place in order to try and stop sexism, such as the Women’s march, He for She, TIME’S UP, and Poverty is Sexist.
To believe that one gender is more powerful over another is something that we never really think of, until we’re in the workplace or in competition for a certain position. If you ever find yourself in a position where you see discrimination toward someone, remember that it’s something you can change.
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