How sexism affects lives in the working world

Our society and our way of living are predominantly sexist. We live in a patriarchal society where the notions of sexism and gender disparity are induced into our minds and subconscious even before we are born. If it is a boy, paint the room blue and if it is a girl, paint it pink. The practice of gender socialization seeds the ideas of sexism and patriarchy within little boys’ and girls’ minds. Ideas like boys have to be stronger, sporty, and tough, whereas girls need to dress pretty, perhaps go for music or dance classes, strengthen sexism.

Sexist thought and behavior, sex roles in society, and gender socialization are the threats we need to tackle promptly. Since birth, we have been socialized by parents and society to accept sexist thinking. By failing to create a mass-based educational movement to teach everyone about feminism, we allow mainstream patriarchal mass media to remain the primary place where folks learn about feminism; most of what they learn is negative. 

While economic self-sufficiency may be the answer to liberation, households in India are predominantly patriarchal and will oppose any ideas contrary to the already set standards. In case the woman is allowed to follow their career, it is a whole different struggle they have to face in the workplace. While males are generally admired and idolized for their leadership qualities and ordering skills in the workplace, women are looked down upon when they lead the team or call the shots! They are often called dominant, egotistical, and even taunted by asking them to remove themselves from positions they do not belong in. The concept of sexism is so ingrained in society that males often feel ashamed of taking orders of following the lead of a female boss even when they are at a lower hierarchal position! Strict dress codes for women are also unfair. Many workplaces ask female employees to be dressed in skirts strictly, and when they turn up in full suits with formal bottoms, this somehow makes the female employee dominant and unapproachable. Unequal wages for equal timing is something that women face, too, almost in every workplace. The notion that men work more than women and are more eligible for specific jobs is wrong. Women are equally capable, and if only given a chance, they would prove it! We need to tackle assumptions, prejudice, and these sexist beliefs of superiority from the root to be completely rid of them.