We’re speaking up đȘ
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How do you respond to seeing sexism in the wild? As women, we can probably all think of a time when weâve been underestimated, dismissed, or treated unfairly because of our gender (I know I have). A few weeks back, I asked our whole community how you respond to real instances of sexism in your life and 75% of you shared that rather than ignoring it, you speak up.
The era of âsucking it upâ or âsweeping it under the rugâ is over, weâre just not having it.
Reading your stories of confronting sexism was, honestly, an incredibly moving experience. I remember struggling to find my voice when I was younger, and only wish my younger self had this community to look up toâshe might have mustered the courage to speak her mind a few years earlier!
Here are just a few of your stories of courage and conviction:
âI sent a letter and email to a local television station about their unfair treatment of a female employee. They chose looks over experience, promoting a man who was better looking to the anchor position while the woman was relegated to researching his news stories for him. Iâm not sure if it made any difference, but Iâm glad I said something.â
âWell I have never held a public platform to speak up on a mass media scale, however whenever Iâm met with things of this nature in the media, I make sure to share them with my friends on social media to educate them and to make sure they see it. All too often, women are overlooked and take the backseat to men and I think itâs due time we had some representation.â
âWhen a co-worker was overlooked for a management position (twice!) in favor of under-qualified men, I had to write to our HR department, CFO, and CEO. In the end, she got the position she deserved!â
âNothing stands in my way, but my outspoken abilities are best in that moment when I notice the inequalities happening, so I can use that situation as a live example. I can do it loud and proud, with or without colorful vocabulary, depending on the situation.â
âI’ve become more and more outspoken the older I’ve gotten. I’m willing to talk about what to most folks is too uncomfortable. If we don’t talk about that which is uncomfortable, then we won’t grow as a people and become comfortable talking about important issues. Women are an integral part of our society and need to be respected and recognized for their talents, skills and ability to be strong leaders!â
âIâve never spoken up about it, except in regards to women in the video game industry. The way women are portrayed in gaming is, for the most part, incredibly sexist and Iâm always met with either âOMG UR A GIRL YOU CAN’T PLAY VIDEO GAMES AS GOOD AS A DUDEâ or âAre you buying that First Person Shooter for your husband or son?â Itâs incredibly irritating to hear this every time I go to the counter at my local gaming shop and Iâve started setting them straight.â
âHonestly, it’s mostly on social media. If people comment on or post memes that are sexist, I ask them things like “would you say that if it were a man?” I’m pretty done with the âold boys clubâ way of doing things.â
âAt my last job, monthly newsletters were always full of the accomplishments of the male management. A group of us got together and pushed for a column dedicated to the challenges of females in the workplace. We provided positive topics on work/life balance, career paths, training and info on joining womenâs organizations that supported our careers. It was a big accomplishment in a male-dominated field.â
Whether at work, at home, in our communities, or even in public life, it’s clear that this is a community that wants to make sure we all get the respect we deserve.
Share in the comments: Why is it important for you to speak up against sexism and discrimination?
My mama said always be honest so I have no filter in my mouth and I don’t mind saying what I have to say but I don’t try to hurt anybody at the same time if there’s something wrong I say it I don’t let it go on that’s just the way I am and it should be good because if somebody is out there and something’s going on you say something about it not to hurt the person just be straight I have no filter in my mouth
We do need to speak up more the government is slowly taking away some of our rights they shouldn’t have any say in what we can & can’t do to our bodies we don’t get go tell them that they half to look a certain. We still don’t get taken seriously when we say someone sexually harassed us we need to stand strong together have each other’s backs etc we need to be there for each other
We were having a big BBQ with friends. My daughers best friend was sitting across from me. My husbands good friend was next to her asking her questions about school. Then I heard him say why don’t you be a nurse practitioner. She said, why would I do that? When I can make $$$$$ and be a brain surgeon. I love this young woman like she was my own! It brings tears to my eyes when I think about her having to deal with the mental games of jealous men who feel superior to woman. But I have to smile when I see the way she handles situations.
Rock on we should support each other as a womanđ
I work for a licensed arborist, as a âgrounds handâ which means that I help cut, stack and remove the debrisâ from the trees that we cut down. Despite the fact that I do the exact same work as my male counterparts (except Iâm only ALLOWED to cut the smaller limbs as well as expected to use the smaller chainsaw to do it), I receive $75 less per day, have to deal with sexual harassment from my boss and get punished (if/when life happens and I am occasionally late, on those days when my kid misses the bus) by being docked $25 of my daily rate. Not only that but I am expected to keep quiet when there is a problem and I have a solution to offer, not allowed to âoutsmartâ my boss (which is not hard to do) and I am treated like I am brain dead. With all the progress women have made, itâs infuriating that I still have to put up with this crap. Something HAS to give here bc now that our men canât be depended on to be the provider anymore and we have had no choice but to step up, itâs just not right that women are still doing CIRCLES around our male coworkers and only getting breadcrumbs in (comparison) pay!
Remember that great empire has fell cause its emperor has fell because the lack of communication between him & his spouse. Do your research !
Its really about time women speak up and be known that 90% of them raise our children alone and they become good leaders. I appalled them and wish we all start to recognize their hard work as single parents!
I worked in a man’s world most of my life. The good old boys club was never far. Two men worked the busy store and I was put in the slow store. Christmas dinner would cone and the men would get a big cash bonus with a pat on the back for selling so much. One summer both men took the weekend off. They had me close my store and work the good busy store. I sold more in one weekend then they had both sold in the first 3 weeks. I was never granted the opportunity to make a pay check in that store. One thing that is very sad to me is how some woman that do get in management and show favor towards the men. Especially sad when it’s proven to her that he stole sales from woman on many occasions. She would make him split the sale and that’s what he should have done in the first place. He would laugh it off like it wasn’t a big deal. I believe if I found one sale that was stolen from me that there was probably nine more he got away with.
I think that men who feel forced to be seen as equal to a woman feels they are being stripped of their masculinity. If we could figure out a way to achieve the same as a man but ensure him of his masculinity is still in tact it would be an easier work day and the man’s need or thoughts of what harmonious balance is between the sexes becomes a bit more understood. In return we don’t have to “fight” for our rights because thean is not feeling threatened of losing his role of a man.
We need to speak our mind be honest with each other and respect people feeling because we all donât feel the same different vibes different people
Many years ago I worked for a large company which was so called a “man’s job”,Which I was hired and I was to prove I could handle the job.I was sent to school and pass all my exams and got a increase in pay. I had a lot of respect from most of the men except from my team leader. I was sent back to school for second time. I passed all my exams. this time it’s was a large pay raise and grade
Well my team leader wasn’t happy about the pay/grade increase. My union representative told me to fight it because I did the work better and I worked well with rest of the men. I deserved it.
I got my pay raise and got my upgrade.
I want to build a platform to help women and young girls with self esteem. As well as assist those who are in abusive relationships. I have done some public speaking prior to covid on different subject matter but I really want to make a difference. Any ideas???
I had to give up a very good friend who is male when over a period of 6 months or so his off handed, angry, blaming comments towards women were making me physically sick to hear. Although the comments were not directed AT ME, and some of what he said he had a point.. he couldn’t separate what a person does/is from the gender. A very black and white thinker turned vicious toward women. I have been brutalized by the opposite sex and can’t bring myself to lump all of anybody as ( insert derogatory remarks). It doesn’t feel right. I have come to trust my inner physical feelings the older I get and that’s a gift. I just don’t ever remember this amount of sexism growing up as I feel it now. Sad .
They arenât comparing men to bears. They are simply saying theyâd feel safer knowing a bear is in the woods, which depending on where you live is true every time you going camping, so is basically just normal camping, than knowing a random man they donât know is in those woods with them. Given how the question is phrased itâs not blaming all men for the actions of some men. Itâs talking about a strange man they donât know. Given that, itâs logical to think about what the odds are the man will be dangerous. So the actions of only some men are very relevant. Choosing the bear is not an indictment of all men, itâs simply acknowledging the statistical reality that a lot of men do hurt women, and generally bears keep to themselves. Iâve seen multiple bears in the wild while camping. A bear being in the same woods as you is very common and not particularly dangerous if you practice basic bear safety while camping.
When I worked for a telemarketing cook I was awarded the #1 marketion associate for two months
In a row. The President called in while I was working late one night and ask me to join him on a night out in a distant city. I told him that I was married and had two children at home and I declined. Then two days later he called me into his office and said that he had givin me a opportunity to go someplace in that company and I had declined and should I choose to continue to work there he didnât want to see me in the hallway going to the water fountain or restroom and he wanted me to work 12 hours Mon -Fri an 6 hours on Sat or I could leave and take my commissions and never come back. Yet when I went to pick up my check they said I didnât have one . I went back to his office and he said I didnât sign a co contract so he wouldnât pay me. I then contacted the CEO and explained what had transpired , and he said he would make sure I got paid because they told him I quit to work for another marketing co. There were several trips back to the presidents office , but to make this story shorter , I was eventfully called by accounting and given my Check singed by the CEO ! And the President got fired !
So I for one do speak up . I go and find a platform for change. One afternoon a few years back a va guest home was doing a lunch in. For female veterans. Honestly I thought it was to get volunteers or donate to the guest house itself. There were only 12 spots and a guest side chair available and I showed up and they were happy to let me join. When I get seated I actually was meeting senator cortez-masto. She invited me to sir at the table along the other 12 woman ans presented a topic and wanted honest feedback that would make a difference for females in the service anywhere serving in the US. This topic ended up being a personal experience she listened nor long after a bill was passed for all women in the military to have the choice of where they are treated after an assault. Now they are not restricted to base hospitals or there military or va hospitals they can choose to go to any treatment facility that makes them feel safe for treatment after a assault whether military related or not while serving. I was impressed at the concern and the value she put into what we all had to say. My daughters watched the news that night at there grandma’s house and saw me and I was just out trying to make good of my free time I rarely have as a single mom. It was a good day.
Women need to speak up even if your voice shakes. Itâs OK. Tell him how you feel. Donât let him take advantage. Itâs too hard for us to get where we go.
I know that is a young mother I had to fight every step of the way. For my right and my child right. Keep fighting girls never give up and never give in.
I have always had a voice far as Woman Rule for no disrespect to men but for years we have been disrespected for some time on jobs and being called the witches of east wick yet all as woman is we need love and someone to understand the journey rather u have children or not hold a full time job sick parent dating
Unfair family issue We as woman endure a lot more that society gives us credit for Iâm a Lion so Let me Roar the Encouragement of All Woman And unplanned obstacles that makes us frazzled and some woman are more into a competition and jealousy than lifting a sister up for iron is suppose to sharpen iron but as this society works Some Woman Will never get that award knocking other Woman For their determination and motivations and shooting for the stars of success Iâm not famous and really wouldnât want to be I just like maintaining my small home my full time job and caring and loving others and being a inspiration for most part
I believe that all races should be treated fairly but too many liberals have taken advantage of being mistreated. Some women will do anything for attention. When I worked I had respect for both male and female and I respected their leadership whether I agree or not. We need to get back to showing respect and not trying to put yourself in front. Too many women have had bad experiences in their homes so therefore they react to society the same way and their children follow in their footsteps.We seem to have this feeling that women are not treated equal but that is not the case sometimes.
When I was young I got pregnant and I told the young man that I was engaged to that he didn’t have to marry me because of the baby. I wanted him to marry me only, because he loved me. He was in college at the time. After we were married my mother-in-law said I should stay home to take care of our child instead of going to work so my husband could go back to college. She then blamed me for him not finishing school at that time, which later in years he didn’t. My husband would let me go to college, because he thought I would leave him if I got an education, and all I wanted to do was to help make money to help pay the bills, because in the Navy you don’t get a lot of money. Later in years I was able to do so. I learned to speak up and to say no, also to speak up when I was seeing injustices being done to others. But at times I still have a hard time to speak my piece when need be, because of PTSD from my youth. When I did get to go to school I was told I should have stayed home to take care of my children, my home, my husband. I was still doing all that and caring 16 to 18 credits. I took care of the yard, clean the house, take my kids to different things and went to their games, dance programs and so on. Did the cooking, in the long run I also worked at the school to pay for my schooling. I had men and wemon telling me to take care of my family. I was doing this not for just me, because it was one of my dreams to fulfill, but it was needed for the future in case anything happened to my husband losing his job, or he gets sick, which both happened in our future. So don’t ever let anyone tell you can’t do anything, stay strong, stay safe, tell someone if someone is beating you, or they are hurting you mentally this married isn’t worth staying in, my sister was in such a marriage and 4 time more. So please learn. Your lives are important and worth standing up for. đ
As a women men will never know the struggles we ensure. We are constantly dismissed, juggling children between work, job and home. Believe that we’re an inferior species, because if we have breasts, and it is far from the truth, women, our amazing multitaskers, quick thinkers and I have a skin so sick that men could never tolerate childbirth. You constantly underestimated because of my gender, not knowing that i’m smart, intelligent and have worth more than an object. I find it intolerable that i’m constantly underestimated because of how I look, but I must be stupid
And as a caretaker, always taking care of the kids, my husband my family, the dogs worked.I’m stressed out to the point where i’m always juggling more than one at, and I asked my husband to take out the garbage and answer the phone, and it’s an impossible task. We’ve come a long way and I think we still have a long way to go
I speak up every time I see anything dealing with sexism and women not getting their fair share when they are well qualified I think everybody should speak up one time this is not the olden days we all women should be standing behind when I am more qualified than the men want us to stand behind them it is important to speak up we deserve a fair shot women that is.
I have 2 sons. One 21 and the other 12. Itâs important for me to speak up about sexism to show my children that we are ALL just as good as the other, no matter our gender. To show them that NO-ONE should be underestimated or under appreciated. Women will forever help this world go round just like we ALWAYS have.
I think we as women should speak up so that it canât continue to happen weather itâs private or public
Too often, we women/females act & feel timid, and apologetic! I see and hear this kind of attitude on all major networks/ social media. When women/females cry in public, for instance, we often apologize for crying! Cry and own your tears. Don’t apologize!!
Hello. I just wanted to let people know about dangerous intentions of gasslighting, mental abuse, and on a side subject not related… Scammers. Love romance, crypto, utility, insurance, and tax relief being the latest one I just found out. And there are Manny more out there. No one thinks it will happen to them until it does. Well it did for me.. they thought my name tag said sucker and had victim written all over it. To my dismay it sure did.. look at testimonial from quora and share them with the as many people as possible. Awareness is the only battle.
Yes I trust my neighbor on my left side but I don’t know the ones on my right side. My neighbor on the left has known me since I was9 and I am now 73. I spent 25 years in Texas though before I came back to Memphis to caretake my dying mother after my husband passed we often do yardwork together and we plan on having a garage sale together later. She is 85 now but still able to move around. She also gets up thru the nite and looks out the window to see if anything is wrong and her husband who is 90 helps her out with this
Yes, I have great neighbors even my parents had great neighbors. We live together next doors for years. Yes, I trust them and they trust us.
MY LAST JOB, WE HAD 4 WOMEN, AND 12 MEN. OUR BOSS WAS A MAN, THAT WAS VERY RUDE TO US WOMEN, AND ALWAYS SAID WOMEN DO NOT BELONG IN A MAN’S JOB EVER! THE 4 OF US WOMEN CONFRONTED OUR BOSS. WE told him , with the men and us women letâs see who can a better job at the request of one of the teacherâs , who made a test of questions for both sexes to answer. 2 men and all 4 of us women were the only ones who could answer all the questions correctly. The others couldnât even get half of the test right. Our boss only got 5 right , out of 30 ?âs, the teacher said, this job should have had a woman for a boss. Oh maybE all you men needs to go back to school. The men n boss were very upset with the teacher for being right. Men just needs to respect women they are just as good at things as men are. Respect bothsexes.
Iâll never forget when i walked into a car dealership to buy a new car back in the 1970âs and there were no women car sales people but only men and all eyes were on me & why I was there so when i said i want to buy a car the sales guy said âwhereâs ur husbandâ and I replied âwhat husbandâ? iâm too young to be married so there is no husband & then he said ok whereâs ur dad? When i told him i was there to buy a car myself he was so shocked he didnât know how to respond or treat me – In the end i finally bought myself a car all by myself & w/my own credit & money, lol!!!
I think we all should be treated equally woman,man,black,white,Hispanic,ect. No favortism
I have mostly worked in as they call it male dominated jobs and I have worked in all female positions where men came to ogle you .the way your treated is absolutely no different. I had to prove myself at my last 2 jobs to get the respect I deserved and i earned it but the one I thought would have my back was the one I married thar never did.he thought that because he was a man that he could do everything better and I fixed my headlight he took it apart to redo it I would fix something and he would go back and redo it and it’d be the exact same way that I did it he couldn’t fit in his head that I was just as good as something that he was in fact there’s a few things I was better at but he damned me and he wanted me to stay home and wait on him hand and foot and when that didn’t happen he turned into a cheater and a liar more and more and more I know it’s not my fault he was already doing it but that just shows even the man you’re married to can’t support you can’t rely on nobody but yourself you know when men look at women in that life it’s ridiculous because we have proven ourselves time and time again just because we have different private parts doesn’t mean that we have below average brains or that we’re not as talented or that we can’t do the same job as them I’ve been hit and beat I’ve been raped I have been disrespected put down I have been dismissed I have been cheated on and lied to I have been passed over for promotions until the past 2 years I earned my right to be a delivery driver at night and not get no Flack from no one because I’m good at what I do and I shouldn’t have to prove myself but I did and I can do it just as good as a man can tonight I mean we’re both susceptible to the same dangers and we both can overcome the same things so we should be treated equal and men shouldn’t automatically think of women as the Homemaker or the one that Waits on them hand your foot men want a maid not a wife a wife is a partner a 50/50 need to get things mixed up sometimes not all men there’s a lot of good men that do think about equal so yeah that’s my story
Amazing đ women!
I like how someone pointed out that women often are behind men when it comes to certain things. I guess this is a result of the Man being considered the âBreadwinnerâ, or that men are known to be stronger than women in general. It certain circumstances I think woman shouldnât be less likely to get a job due to cubs considered weak because not all women are unable to lift or carry out tasks that men do with ease.
We as a united front women, lgbtq, and the men who are in ours lives as support need to be loud! I have raised all my daughters to march for womenâs rights and all equity/ equality. I raised them to play sports and when they wanted to play coed that is what I fought for. I have daughters that played on all boys leagues in very dominant sports. A coach on the other side told us as they unloaded from my car in uniform to take them out and teach them their place. I told my girls the way to win against that is to beat those players on the field. They flipped one daughter in the air and she said since after checked only possibly I want to play again. I told her harness the rage you feel and use it against the players that did this but do not play illegal use your intellect. We talked and I called the ref over he listened to us on all from earlier and said he would help. My younger daughter on the same team joined in and they worked together and dropped the player got the ball and moved it to the shooter. While the kid was on the ground my younger daughter put her foot lightly on the kid and told him we may be smaller but we are smarter. The next time you hurt a girl you may not be as lucky! The ref redirected the coach from the other team so she could make her statement. They did all as strong girls, sisters, and with a respect for sportsmanship. When we got home we emailed the league that the team came from about the coach and players. There was a parent that heard and saw from the team that collaborated the incident and agreed to help.
Sorry long but I speak loud against sexism my whole life and I thought hearing how young girls can stand for themselves was more important. What came from this was a confidence that one daughter would use against a sexist school principal. Proud mum! And later a Dean of a college that failed to address hate crimes in a school program!
I live in a small town. I don’t think I encounter much sexism or discrimination that I’m aware of. Maybe I am just oblivious or naive. Lol
I do think overall the female role in society has come a long way. We must believe in ourselves and others. We must choose love over hate. The way God loves us.
I myself have always been outspoken. I was a CNA for 13 years and I cared for Alzheimer’s residents. I loved taking care of them all. In some cases the “guys” thought oh you won’t be able to lift that person. Or some of the women would say the women are too rough on the men. It’s all communication. I taught my four daughters to be independent. So be open minded and voice all. If you see something going bad try and help if you can’t help, find someone to help. I had to stop many many other humans from bad things they were doing or talking about doing. Voice any and all. Women and men can accomplish just about anything. The same.
I do feel that men are still in control, however in my company. We are experiencing the winds of change. We have a younger female manager now and boy is she smart and productive. It’s still very hard for her to empliment change. She has accomplished alot so far. She’s not perfect knowone is, but she is working very had to improve the way things work.
I find that as a individual of a certain age and demographic if i donât some people wonât understand, and they just lump us all into one , Iâve never been a shrinking violet, Iâve always spoken up for anyone no matter what they look like
I absolutely loved this message!! It was extremely informative and improved my perspective!!
It should not matter male or female we should get the respect we deserve and we have to speak up for ourselves because no one else will
Itâs very important to remember âweâre in this world togetherâ. You shouldnât want others to experience discriminatory behavior if they can avoid it. When people are mistreated, anger and resentment may follow creating a (domino effect). Execute your right and the ability to articulate a concern or complaint – donât lie dormant when you can, and you should make a difference. Character, morals and manners – never go out of style!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel itâs about time to give us our flowers as women or gender we are the future father us nurture us we can be president vice president scholars an we should be paid itâs only human
Well we’re do we start. It’s more than just important it’s a movement in progress. A move needed. If possible needed as much as possible to make us heard. Why should we be underestimated mistreated and or differently. Not for nothing but if you really want to divide male females it’s fair to say we have the best opinions ideas and many other things that we can say men slack. Yet we don’t. We continue to fight for equality because it’s the right thing to do. When can we abolish the non sense. Just when.
I worked in a car dealership and I was sexually harassed. I sold the highest car on the lot and didnât get a bonus. The owner said he didnât want to hire a female.
Women must speak up for us, our daughters, our nieces, our grand-daughters and honor the women who raised us. I am no longer in the workforce. I am, however, astounded at the limitations men have in truly understanding who we are and what we are made of. I am disappointed that they have no impetus to learn more. I have embarked on a singular journey to share my experiences of sexism and discrimination with my partner who is a lovely and a joy to be married to. Our generation of men were raised to see women in roles that shoved us into boxes. It is my opinion that, although many women my age have evolved and embrace the totality of who we are and can be, many men have not evolved as much with us. When I see sexist behavior exposed, I break it down so that he can see how disparaging the behavior affects women…including me. There are times when he has cited situations from his childhood involving his mother or sisters, and I have given him a woman’s perspective on the situation and the impact it may have had on them. I know it is working because he now asks questions and we can discuss the subject in earnest.
I have been in so many situations were my ex-husband (now) always said your better off at home, not getting an education after highschool. Saying all those famous old sayings of a man can do it better or your job doesn’t compare to mine because I work harder….
Well I was shy a was with someone who really didn’t know who I was because of being afraid to speak up or say I’d rather do something else. Well I found my voice after all the humiliation and feel so much better now a single Mom!
Women need to speak up more we need more women’s rights let’s not be silent let’s step this up to the next level I had been in a mental abuse of relationship they were narcissists I had called the police several times they didn’t do a thing but site for the man and I was the victim can you believe this this needs to stop let’s stop the silence now and speak up!!!!