It's Not Just Racism That Is Still Prevelant in America

[Nuclear Unicorn]

Sexism is still rampant as well and I don't just mean the "sweetie" and "hon" epithets women have to deal with on a daily basis. Nor do I mean the sexists savagery aimed at Hillary last year (I voted for President Obama but I know sexism when I see it).

What I find incredible is how in this supposedly enlightened day and age how often I see, both in popular culture and the world around me, that a sexually confident young woman is a "slut" while a wild, quasi-misogynist young man is a "stud". And if a girl wants to make herself attractive she has to endure a bunch of brutes who act as if she is obligated to service them and whether she does or doesn't she's still a slut.

Let's pull out our soul-searching mirrors folks.

Do we like what we see?

[MineralMan]

1. Given the idiocy we see every day, I can't imagine what will work

to change this. Obviously not everyone is a sexist. There's no question, however, that many are. What to do about it? Don't tolerate it. Think of the society as Facebook, and unfriend anyone who treats people that way. That's the only approach I can suggest.

There is no way to pass laws to keep people from thinking one way or another. That's impossible. So, a one-on-one solution is really the only option, with the job of educating people falling on everyone.

[G_j]

2. I'm disturbed by what I see

Our culture, (in my very humble opinion), is terribly dumbed down.
It's all very toxic. Men and women grow up with toxic and cruelly distorted images of who they think they should be.

[BlooInBloo]

3. It's true. America has many problems.

[Name removed]

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[stopbush]

5. My female boss calls people "honey" and "sweetie" all the time.

She also drops the f bomb a couple of times a day, often in meetings. She also thinks nothing of drinking alcohol at work during meetings, even though our employee handbook says to do so is cause for dismissal (she often gets Board members to join her in having a glass of wine during a meeting. I always abstain).

I'm male, and I think it's inappropriate for her to call people honey in the workplace. The drinking is also objectionable. I need this job, so I keep my mouth closed.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. LOL!

Is she hiring? I like her. You and I can trade jobs...

...but I do agree with your point about calling people "honey".

Does she do it to male AND female? Not that that excuses it if it upsets you but obviously it's not sexist if it's universal. I s'pose in a way there is a double-standard here too. We can't imagine a man calling another man "honey" but we don't think twice about a woman calling another woman "honey" and it not being sexual in nature.

BTW - when I apply should I bring Merlot or Chardonnay? j/k

[stopbush]

21. She's gender-neutral in who gets called honey.

I think it's more likely a long-standing habit she acquired from her upbringing.

Probably Chardonnay would be best.

[Name removed]

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[Nuclear Unicorn]

8. My BF

never has trouble figuring out when I want sex.

"That's all well and good for him but what about the rest of us?" I hear some saying.

Maybe women would be more willing to express themselves sexually if every man didn't try to hop every woman. They can't all be yours. It gets pretty frickin' pathetic sometimes, laughable even, ergo counter-productive to your intents. Be that as it may women are sexually guarded because they feel like as soon as they let out the scent they are cooking every hungry wolf shows up at the door. I only want 1 wolf.

[BlooInBloo]

10. Note that some of this is just classic "battle of the sexes" stuff...

Which seems somewhat a different thing from real sexism.

Running the two together strikes me as unfair.

[dolphindance]

12. But how did you meet your BF? He approached you first, didn't he?

You only want 1 wolf, but the wolf must find you. Let the wolves hunt. And let them down gently if you say no.

[redqueen]

16. Oh FFS

:eyes:

[Nuclear Unicorn]

19. Yes, that's exactly how it happened.

L'il ol' me just waiting for some big prince to swoop me up onto his noble, white steed and take me back to his castle.

[treestar]

20. Women hunt.

Well, Sarah Palin does. :silly:

[Name removed]

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[MineralMan]

26. Please ignore the message I posted earlier.

I believe you are beyond hope.

[Name removed]

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[MineralMan]

30. Me, too, and right now, I need to hurl. Bye!

[MineralMan]

25. You're badly mistaken.

You want a good strategy? Go to a party or a bar and sit quietly by yourself. Have a smile on your face and just watch the crowd with interest. It won't take long before you get approached. If you're at all presentable, don't have drool stains on your shirt, and have most of your teeth, someone will come over and chat with you. Guaranteed.

[dolphindance]

27. That only works 100% for women. If you're a guy it MIGHT work, but you'd have to be VERY handsome.

[treestar]

9. Whaddya mean, us?

So if a woman did that, you wouldn't label her a "slut" or "forward" (my favorite old fashioned Victorian word).

[dolphindance]

13. Nah, just sexually confident. :)

[Starry Messenger]

17. Is this a serious post?

:wtf:

[MineralMan]

24. They don't approach you? Did you ever wonder why?

Perhaps a little thought on the subject will help you understand. Uff da!

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

11. Being that I'm single now. I'm all for sexually confident young women.

:spank:

But seriously I know what you mean.

[Jon Boston]

14. You lost me...

right here:

"And if a girl wants to make herself attractive she has to endure a bunch of brutes who act as if she is obligated to service them and whether she does or doesn't she's still a slut."

Unpack?

[Nuclear Unicorn]

18. Why is it Polynesian women...and countless others

...can walk around topless, still be beautiful as they naturally are, and yet not have to endure endless catcalls, whistles and outright foul comments?

It's their culture. If a women can be half-clothed, beautiful AND still safe within a primitive culture what does it say about our supposedly "advanced" culture?

I'm not ashamed of myself--I'm not bragging--but sometimes I feel I have to hide myself. Despise the notion of the burqa but some days I wish I had one to hide under.

[Name removed]

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[rufus dog]

15. Both racism and sexism boil down to fear and ignorance

And based upon the differences between the two major parties you are going to have more (many) racists and sexist that are Repubs.

[DevonRex]

29. We have a long way to go regarding sexism, racism and homophobia.

And it's about damned time we started calling it when we see it.

[Odin2005]

31. And many still accuse rape victims of being hysterical, lying, attention-seeking sluts.

And think rape jokes are funny. And think date-raping a drunk, passed-out woman is OK.

:grr:

[Nuclear Unicorn]

32. I have heard

some extremely grotesque jokes about domestic violence as well. I even (over)heard one about SIDS.

I want to say maybe it is a coping mechanism as I don't seriously think the neanderthals telling the jokes beat their wives or would laugh if their own child suddenly succumbed but it seems to betray a darker trait within people.