Subtle Sexism

Subtle Sexism exists all around us.

It is often these seemingly minor slights that can have the biggest impact. When a man and woman are on a committee together, coteaching a class, or presenting a project to the boss.  

If a man never reiterates what the woman says - He does not reference her in his comments - He turns his body away from her rather than bladed somewhat toward her during his conversation - He corrects her or interrupts her - Rolls his eyes or makes faces while she is talking

These are all indicators of disdain, disrespect, and disregard

Others present WILL pick up on these subtleties & they will transfer to them. They too will unconsciously disregard the female or her ideas or not respect her as highly as the male.
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If you are a male and wish to not subtlety undermine your female counterpart in a meeting, training class, etc. then do the following:

• Refer to her by name
• Gesture toward her when speaking positively about something
• Include her in the discussion or conversation
• Openly credit her for her work or contribution
• If you have something to change in what she is saying or instructing then talk to her about it and give her the opportunity to amend the comment or further clarify it rather than you speaking for her or even worse, against her. 

Undermining a female coworker in a public setting can be a devastating set back that the two individuals may never be able to recover from. 

Build People Up! 

Women's Equality was just a joke

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964  prohibits discrimination in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin.
The word "sex" was not in the original wording of the Act. During the debate of the Civil Rights Act on the House floor, Congressman Howard Smith of Virginia mockingly offered the one word amendment to the Act. This led to several hours of debate, later called "ladies day in the House", after which the amendment did pass.

Smith was a staunch conservative and opponent of the Act and made the amendment as a ploy to have the entire bill shot down. 

Smith later confessed to his colleague, Congresswoman Martha Griffiths, "Martha, I’ll tell you the truth. I offered it as a joke."


"The world has never yet seen a truly great and virtuous nation, because in the degradation of women, the very fountains of life are poisoned at their source." ~ Lucretia Motts

One of the biggest moments in the Woman's Movement was made by an opponent only as a joke - That idea backfired!

Miss Independent (Cover) by LMohlenkamp