Sexism in 2011Sexism in 2011

Alexa ChaviousAlexa Chavious

Shelly Woodworth’s life is complicated Shelly Woodworth’s life is complicated by sexism. Everywhere.by sexism. Everywhere.

She comes home to a husband She comes home to a husband that expects her to do all that expects her to do all household chores, and take household chores, and take care of all child care care of all child care responsibilities. responsibilities.

When Shelly goes to work, she is When Shelly goes to work, she is sexually harassed by her co sexually harassed by her co workers along with her boss. workers along with her boss.

Today is Monday. Shelly is just Today is Monday. Shelly is just waking up and putting on waking up and putting on makeup, doing her hair. She makeup, doing her hair. She wonders what kind of “mood” wonders what kind of “mood” her abusive husband will be in her abusive husband will be in today.today.

Shelly begins to make the kids Shelly begins to make the kids and her husband’s lunch and and her husband’s lunch and makes them breakfast as well. makes them breakfast as well.

She leaves at 8:30 am to go to She leaves at 8:30 am to go to work, and stops at Dunkin work, and stops at Dunkin Donuts. She goes inside to get a Donuts. She goes inside to get a coffee as a young gentleman coffee as a young gentleman opens the door for her. opens the door for her.

Shelly goes to work and earns Shelly goes to work and earns 25% less than her male co 25% less than her male co worker who has the same worker who has the same qualifications.qualifications.

At lunch, male co workers make At lunch, male co workers make comments about how Shelly comments about how Shelly have gotten implants because have gotten implants because her breasts seem bigger.her breasts seem bigger.

Shelly walks in on her daughter Shelly walks in on her daughter playing and overhears her playing and overhears her daughter laugh and say “You’re daughter laugh and say “You’re silly! Daddies don’t cook!” to her silly! Daddies don’t cook!” to her friend playing house.friend playing house.

Her son is watching Beauty and Her son is watching Beauty and the Beast and hears Gaston say the Beast and hears Gaston say to Belle, “Women don’t read!”to Belle, “Women don’t read!”

Shelly’s daily life is a perfect Shelly’s daily life is a perfect example of “casual” and modern example of “casual” and modern sexism in every day activities. sexism in every day activities.

Now you may ask… What is Now you may ask… What is SEXISM?SEXISM?

Sexism is:Sexism is: The belief that one sex is more The belief that one sex is more

valuable/superior/more valuable/superior/more competent than the othercompetent than the other

Involves hatred of another sexInvolves hatred of another sex Similar to chauvinism Similar to chauvinism

How does Sexism affect How does Sexism affect YOU?YOU? Discrimination affects jobs, and pay Discrimination affects jobs, and pay

wageswages Not everyone is treated as “equal” Not everyone is treated as “equal”

todaytoday Affects your relationships and Affects your relationships and

marriage- who does what? marriage- who does what? Don’t have paid parental leave or Don’t have paid parental leave or

affordable daycare affordable daycare Women may be ridiculed and Women may be ridiculed and

deemed as selfish for not staying deemed as selfish for not staying home and having childrenhome and having children

How does Sexism affect How does Sexism affect society?society? Negative images of what women Negative images of what women

should act and look like affects should act and look like affects young girlsyoung girls

Promotes violence, rapePromotes violence, rape Higher crime rateHigher crime rate Eating disordersEating disorders Issue of teen& unwanted Issue of teen& unwanted

pregnanciespregnancies Single mothersSingle mothers Congress is less than 20% femaleCongress is less than 20% female

What can we do to fight What can we do to fight against it?against it? Educate others on sexism, what Educate others on sexism, what

it is, how they can stop it etc.it is, how they can stop it etc. Not give into the negative Not give into the negative

advertisements. Support advertisements. Support products with better products with better advertisements such as Doveadvertisements such as Dove

Protest videos misrepresenting Protest videos misrepresenting women and men, such as women and men, such as Kanye West’s MonsterKanye West’s Monster

To end the presentation, I’d like to To end the presentation, I’d like to leave off with some controversial leave off with some controversial ads/photos to get you thinking:ads/photos to get you thinking: