Why is sexism still a socially acceptable ism?
Why is it that people can express sexist views and still be considered politically correct?
Why is it that commercials still portray women cleaning the toilets, vacuuming, and breaking up with their mops?
Why is it that when we see women heros on TV they always have short, tight skirts and low cleavage?
Why is it that we finally have 2 medical shows where the headline charcters are women and both are in the stereotyped role of nurse?
Why are all late night talk show hosts men?
Why are the vast majority of TV political pundits men?
Why is it still acceptable to refer to grown women as girls (as if we are still children who need guidance and protection)?
Why is it seen as acceptable that 50% of the population has only token representation on the US Supreme Court, Congress, and the US Senate.
Why is it socially acceptable to regard women as sex objects rather than whole human beings?
Why is it that society still assumes that there are intrinsic sex roles?
I know that there are alot more whys, but I think that the answer is connected with my last why. The continued acceptance of intrinsic gender roles allows all the other examples of sexism to be acceptable.
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One reason sexism persists is that social change tends to be slothfully
slow
just like our present Congress in action. It takes years of educating
people through plodding, prodding and repetition to make the positive
changes we seek. (Look at how long it is taking to create legislation to
prevent a worldwide catastrophe due to global climate change. While
predictions are dire, people remain nonplussed and mired in entropy.)
Another problem is that sexism has become more subtle. In addition,
although we see sexism as dysfunctional it still serves some functions
otherwise it would vaporize. Recently, we've been told that there are
now
more women in the workforce than men. At some level, this may look good.
But it is not a kudo for women. It could simply mean that some employers
would prefer to hire women because they pay them less, are less
threatened
by them, etc.
Your point about people perceiving some sex roles to be intrinsic is
certainly one major roadblock. People don't even think about changing
something that is written in DNA.
I may be perceived as soft on the crime of sexism, but my gut feeling is
that we just have to continue patiently taking small tripping steps.
Sometimes monumental gains are made by a stroke of serendipity but then
it's
usually back to the pokey glacial grind.
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