While sexism hurts women most intimately, it also damages men severely.
By: Nadiia Martyniuk
Tags: Sexism, Bias, Discrimination

Men discrimination?

The common perception that only women and girls suffer from discrimination proved to be misleading. It may be difficult to believe, but discrimination against males also occurs in modern society. Unfair treatment of males or females as well as gender stereotypes, and identified gender roles, led to the emergence of sexism. Both sexes experience sexism; however, it differs in men and women and has a more detrimental effect on the latter.

Sexism is both discrimination based on gender and the attitudes, stereotypes, and cultural elements that promote this discrimination. It can affect any gender, but it is particularly documented as affecting women. Consequently, discrimination of women is commonplace due to the patriarchy that developed various gender stereotypes, which found its traces in the written laws, according to which women could not vote, receive an education or hold a position at an office. Obviously, sexism against females stems from the patriarchal system, which considered women to be inferior.

Female discrimination still exists at work, on the advertisement pages, and in everyday life.

Even though society acknowledges women’s rights, there are still apparent proofs of sexism. Gender workplace biases have a considerable impact on women in male-dominated professions. Case studies confirm that occupational female discrimination persists in descriptive form. Descriptive bias ascribes certain traits to a person. A woman may be emotional and sensitive, while a man is usually self-assured and rational. However, when the woman applies for a traditionally male job, such a description can have an adverse effect. It is a discrepancy between the stereotypical attributes of a woman and the requirements necessary for the position. When employers receive little information about a candidate, they will apply a descriptive form and give preference to a man. The National Center for Education Statistics shows that women often have to work three years longer to be promoted than their male counterparts. Moreover, modern advertising portrays women as sexual objects, making a contradiction between the woman’s role in society and the manner in which advertising companies depict them. Female discrimination still exists at work, on the advertisement pages, and in everyday life.

Men don’t cry.

Contrary to the widespread belief, men and boys can also be victims of discrimination. There is such a notion as “second sexism” that denotes the wrongful discrimination against males based on sex. For instance, men experience social and legal pressure to join the military and go to war, thereby risking their lives. Moreover, state institutions tend to have a common perception that men are supposed to be fearless. Furthermore, some studies demonstrate that the court system treats females more leniently than males, and when a victim is a woman, a criminal has more chances of being convicted. Another disadvantage of being a man is that in 84% of divorce cases, females win the custody of a child on the grounds of gender. The examples of sexism against men include conscription, stricter punishment in the court, and the disadvantages concerning child custody.

All in all, sexism is a systematic phenomenon based on gender discrimination. Women confront sexism when they apply for a male-dominated job, get a salary or read advertisements, whereas sexism against males is present in the court and military system. Due to male supremacy, the cases of discrimination against females are more frequent and severe.