Do Sexism Still Exist In Workplace? How We Can Stand Up And Change This Subtle Sexism Behaviour Towards Women

Despite how the world has changed for women, where they are now treated equally and given equal chances, sexism and unfriendly behaviour toward women are still prevalent in the workplace. Even though we have made great strides in combating overt sexism, “low level” or subtle sexism is still tolerated in the workplace and is sometimes passed off as humour or office banter.

The consequences of workplace sexism are extensive. Studies suggest that women who are born in sexist environments may end up earning less money overall than women who are born in less sexist environments. Workplace misogyny may manifest itself in many different ways. In the workplace, sexism can also occur against males, but it is considerably more prevalent when it does, and we will discuss some hypotheses as to why this might be the case.

Whatever it looks like, there should be zero tolerance for it. It’s time to speak up for yourself when you receive less preference than your male coworker. It’s crucial to be informed about instances of sexism in the workplace so that you may help put a stop to it since the problem is that it can manifest itself in some less visible ways.

 Do you know about Occupational Sexism?

Occupational sexism, also known as sexism in the workplace or employment sexism, is any sort of prejudice towards a person based on their sex that takes place at their place of employment. There are several explanations for why there is occupational sexism in the first place.

The social role theory is one hypothesis that examines the historical development of women’s traditional responsibilities in the house and the impact that has had on women in the workplace. Traditionally, women took care of the home and children while men went to work. Based on these roles, gender stereotypes and expectations were formed. Then, when women started working, these attitudes and preconceptions persisted.

Let’s discuss the type of Sexism in Workplaces

Sexism in the workplace can be divided into two categories, namely:

• Hostile- This kind of sexism comes out as insulting. Women are made to appear beneath males at work. They could be thought of as being ineffective, overly emotional, or manipulative. Examples of this kind of discrimination include forcing women to take notes in meetings where everyone has the same job title or labelling particular duties as “women’s labour.”
• 
  Benevolent: More unintentional manifestations of benevolent sexism are seen. It is the notion that males should provide for women while women should be cared for. In cases of occupational sexism, women may be excluded from late-night meetings because they would prefer to stay home and take care of their families. It undermines the idea that women should be treated equally, even while the prevailing attitude is not disparaging and could even originate from a place of “compassion.”
  

Here are some Examples Of Sexism In The Workplace

Whether it is friendly or antagonistic, sexism has no place in society. When it occurs at work, it might not even be as obvious. When sexism does manifest, some instances may be as follows:

• Insults As Jokes: Jokes are one of the most typical ways that sexism manifests itself. Men may make jokes that are intended to be humorous but instead disrespect women because of their gender.
• Role Stereotypes: This occurs when different duties are assigned at work and individuals choose who they believe should perform the task based on stereotyped roles. Men would wait for a woman to open the package when food is ordered for a meeting, for instance, as if that were the lady’s responsibility.
• Gender Labeling: Another common assumption is that outspoken women are labelled bossy. She can be characterised as being excessively emotional if she isn’t as aggressive as anticipated. A sort of gender labelling is when someone says something like, “Man up!” regarding not expressing emotions.
• Degrading Women’s Opinions: It may be sexist when males talk over or over-explain things to women (a practice known as mansplaining). It could be illustrating the notion that a woman’s voice is less significant or respected than a man’s.

How to Fight Misogyny in the Workplace

You could be a part of the issue if you’re not contributing to the solution. You are equally responsible for sexism whether you actively participate in it or just complacently observe it. You can speak up and combat sexism anywhere, but especially at work.

Some ways to do so are to:

1. Speak out when you see sexism happening
2. Ensure equal contributions are welcomed
3. Encourage open discussion at meetings;
4. Consider your presumptions and views
5. Check your speech patterns and jokes for sexism.
6. Reframe debates
7. Pay attention to stereotypes

Everyone deserves to be treated fairly. A workplace should be a secure area where both men and women may successfully do their tasks. Strict measures should be taken to address workplace sexism against either gender. Because the repercussions of occupational sexism may last a lifetime, it’s critical that everyone works to put an end to it. 

Article By – Dikhyaa Mohanty