Sexism

Sexism refers to all types of discrimination against people due to their (ascribed) gender. It is based on the premise of a binary gender system (female/male) in which the female gender is considered inferior to the male gender. This reflects a parallel to misogyny. As well as a hierarchical order, the genders are also assigned specific allegedly natural characteristics. Accordingly, sexism can affect women and men, as well as non-binary gender identities and those who do not identify with the gender assigned to them at birth.

Sexist stereotypes are reflected in views on character traits, ways of behaving and communicating, body images, clothes or choice of profession. Some examples of these prejudices are:

• “Women must not be loud-mouthed, critical or demanding. A woman’s place is in the kitchen. Women must wear dresses and have long hair. Women must be desirable for men. Women are always emotional. Women are lost when it comes to technology.”
• “Men mustn’t cry or show their feelings. Men are incapable of looking after children. Men drink beer and eat meat.”

People encounter these prejudices in childhood already, reflected for example in toys or media developed exclusively for one of the binary genders. Sexism also has an effect on the legal and economic situation of women, with one topical example being the gender pay gap. However, sexism can also be expressed in actual violence towards people read as feminine, in other words through rape, trafficking of women, sexual discrimination or derogatory language. This type of discrimination therefore not only encompasses direct and indirect discrimination but also discrimination at the structural and societal levels.

Feminist movements aim to reduce or prevent the discrimination experienced by women in particular due to sexism. At Friedrich-Alexander-Universität, striving for equal opportunities for all genders is anchored in FAU’s mission statement regarding equal opportunities and is encouraged and driven forward through the work of the Office of Equality and Diversity. Important instruments in this respect include gender and diversity monitoring, aimed at raising the visibility of inequalities between the genders at university, and promotion strategies or campaigns for raising visibility that also play an important role in combating discrimination.

Sources: IDA-NRW; Amadeu Antonio Foundation