What is Sexism?

Sexism happens when people make assumptions and predictions about a person because of their real or perceived sex or gender. It can have a devasting impact on a person’s mental and emotional development if they believe their own personal goals, desires and abilities are limited due to their sex or gender. In addition, sexism can lead to objectification. This means a person is no longer seen as a person, but as an object. Objectification denies a person’s inherent value, dignity, and worth. It can even lead to abuse, rape, and murder in extreme cases. Ultimately, sexism limits our abilities to form healthy relationships with ourselves and others. All people have the right to be treated equally and fairly and to express themselves fully and authentically. No one should ever have to feel as if they are not valued or worthy. And no one should have to experience objectification. 

NOTE: In this module we will use terms that describe body parts. These terms can make some people feel uncomfortable. However, these terms are being used to help us learn more about the roots of sexism by using precise, accurate language.

Institutionalized

Institutionalized sexism occurs when it is the policy or practice of a group, business, organization or government to treat people differently based on their real or perceived sex or gender.

Rejecting Sexism and Dismantling the Sex Binary

The first step in rejecting sexism is saying it’s not okay and dismantling the sex-binary lens.

Similar to racism, sexism is often rooted in a faulty concept known as the “sex-binary lens.” This lens assumes there are only two sexes: male/men and female/women. It states that men have a penis and two testicles, and that women have a vagina, ovaries and a uterus. The lens further assumes both men and women are able to reproduce, want to reproduce, and want to take on the role of parenthood.

In addition, the sex-binary lens assumes that a person’s internal chromosomes and hormones are either male or female – XX for women and XY for men. It assumes men have a high testosterone level and women have a high estrogen level. Further, the sex-binary assumes men have inherent skill sets, abilities, desires and gender expressions, and women inherently have skills sets, abilities, desires and gender expressions that are opposite those of men. This lens also labels personality traits as masculine for men and feminine for women. Examples include strength and perseverance for men and caring and parental instincts for women.

The sex-binary lens requires many assumptions about a person from the moment they are born. In the most basic sense, sexism stems from the idea that a person’s entire identity and destiny can be determined by their genitals and reproductive organs. In reality, genitals have very little to do with a person’s skills, abilities, desires, goals, or personality traits.

Spectrum-Based View of Humanity

What is meant by “sex” anyway?

Most species on Earth are able to reproduce, and human beings are no exception. We are created when human sperm fertilizes a human egg. Once fertilized, the egg takes approximately 9 months to fully develop into a human being capable of living outside the womb. This process often occurs through sexual intercourse between two people with complementary reproductive abilities. In addition, advances in technology now allow us to reproduce with the assistance of in-vitro fertilization or intra-uterine insemination (if you have questions about these processes, we encourage you to research them). Each of us have biological sex characteristics that influence our abilities to reproduce. Some of these characteristics are externally visible, like a penis, testicles or vagina, and some of them are internal, like a uterus, chromosomes, hormones, and genes passed down from our parents.

Genitals and Sex Organs

Our genitals are body parts that play an important role in the feelings of sexual pleasure and gratification, and aid in the process of reproduction and waste elimination (such as urination and menstruation). Genitals come in a wide range of variations and sizes. Some people have a penis and two testicles, and some people have a vagina. Some people may be born with a penis and a vagina, and some people are born with neither. Some people are born with three testicles, and some people are born with one. In fact, some people may also be born with two vaginas or two penises, and some people have been born with a fully functioning penis and uterus. Any combination is possible and can occur for many different reasons. 

Reproduction and Parenting

Importantly, the ability to reproduce is not determined by our genitals. Our ability to reproduce is determined by our ability to produce healthy sperm or a healthy human egg and to find a partner whose sperm or egg is compatible. Moreover, the desire to become a parent is not necessarily related to our ability to reproduce. Some people are able to reproduce and want to become parents. Some people are able to reproduce, but do not want to be parents. And some people are not able to reproduce and do want to be parents. 

Gender (Expression)

Gender refers to how we express our internal sex characteristics – hormones, genetics and chromosomes – to the world around us. Our gender is less about our genitals and reproductive abilities, and more about how we feel and think about our sex overall. How we style our hair, shave, speak, talk and act are all part of our gender expression. The clothes we wear and the features of our body we choose to highlight or enhance are also a part of our gender expression. For example, wearing make-up, leaving the top button of our shirt undone, or styling our facial hair are also part of our gender expression. Importantly, our gender expression is not inherently tied to our genitals. There is no biological reason for a person with a penis to wear jeans, or a person with vagina to wear a dress. Anyone can wear what they feel most comfortable in.

Some people choose to enhance, change or alter their external genitals – or other body parts – with the help of a trained doctor to be more in line with their gender expression and how they feel internally. For example, this can include breast enlargement or reduction, penis enlargement, or reforming a person’s penis into a vagina. Many people also work with doctors to adjust their hormones – estrogen and testosterone – for a variety of reasons.

How we express our emotions and our body language is also influenced by our internal sex characteristics. We can be soft and reserved, highly energetic, or combination thereof. There is no right way or wrong way to express ourselves. 

Beliefs to Challenge

I believe there are only two sexes.

Human First Lens

I recognize human beings can have a wide range of genitals, internal chromosomes and hormones, reproductive abilities, and gender expressions. I understand we now know chromosome variations can include XY, XX, XXX, XXY, XYY and many others.

Beliefs to Challenge

Men have a penis. Women have a vagina.

Human First Lens

I know that genitals do not define a person, and that I can’t assume anything about a person’s genitals just by looking at them anyway. Unless I’m engaging in a personal conversation in which our genitals are relevant, it’s really none of my business.

Belief to Challenge 

Men and women are inherently different.

Human First Lens

I recognize all people are inherently similar, with each of us having our own unique goals, desires and abilities. In order to learn more about someone, I simply have to ask.

Beliefs to Challenge

I believe men and women should behave a certain way according to their sex or gender.

Human First Lens

I recognize a person’s genitals have little or no relation to a person’s abilities, goals, interests, and desires. We are free to express ourselves fully and authentically.

Beliefs to Challenge

I believe men are inherently stronger than women.

Human First Lens

I recognize that testosterone and estrogen impact our body’s development differently, but there are many factors that impact a person’s strength and endurance, including internal sex characteristics, self-determination, and drive.

Beliefs to Challenge

I use the phrase “one of the good ones.”

Human First Lens

I recognize I will encounter many people of all sexes and gender expressions, and there will simply be some people I like and resonate with, and some people I don’t.

Beliefs to Challenge

I feel like I must categorize people into either “he” or “she”

Human First Lens

I can tell a story by saying “I was talking to a person the other day, and they said”, so that I don’t have to choose a gender for them. If they express their gender to me, I can provide basic dignity and respect by honoring the pronouns they use for themselves. While this may not come naturally to me, I can practice this to become more comfortable in how I refer to people.

Beliefs to Challenge

I find myself having a generalized attitude about how men act and how women act.  

Human First Lens

I recognize that each person is an individual, and that I can interact with someone without having a preconceived notion or expectations about them.

Beliefs to Challenge

I use or have used derogatory language to describe people.

Human First Lens

I know that using harmful language can hurt people’s feelings and make them feel small. I don’t like that for me, and I wouldn’t like that for someone I care about. I don’t want that to happen to anyone else either.

Beliefs to Challenge

I have negative feelings towards people who are not my sex or gender.

Human First Lens

I have a neutral or positive view of people in general and recognize that each person is worthy of dignity and respect.

Beliefs to Challenge

I’m afraid of groups of people who are not the same sex or gender as me.  

Human First Lens

I recognize that any past negative experiences I’ve had with a person do not indicate how another person will behave.

Beliefs to Challenge

I often think a person’s sex or gender determines their true intentions.  

Human First Lens

I recognize that a person’s real or perceived genitals do not dictate their intentions.  

Beliefs to Challenge

I don’t understand transgender people.  

Human First Lens

I recognize there are some people whose genitals or hormone levels don’t initially align with the way they feel about themselves. I recognize all people have the right to express their gender and themselves in ways that work best for them.

Beliefs to Challenge

I don’t understand intersex people.

Human First Lens

I recognize some people are born with a penis and vagina, or reproductive organs that include ovaries and testicles, or a penis and uterus.

Beliefs to Challenge

There are masculine traits for men and feminine traits for women.

Human First Lens

I recognize any person can enjoy cooking, watch sports, decorating, or working hard. People with a penis can be caring and have strong parenting instincts, while people with a vagina can enjoy football and be known for their independence, strength and perseverance. Personality traits cannot be categorized by sex or gender.

If you have been a victim of sexism, it’s important to remember we all have the right to be proud of our bodies, our abilities, and our emotions. We have the right to live our lives authentically and to express ourselves in the ways that work best for us. The more we allow ourselves to be who we are, the more others will allow themselves to be who they are, too. We are never called to minimize ourselves because of the actions of others. If you have been a victim of sexism or a criminal act, addressing unhealed trauma is critically important. You have a right to be who you are and deserve to be your full self. This can be difficult to resolve on your own. If you need help and guidance, speaking with a trauma-informed counselor can help you process and heal.

In addition, sexism in matters of employment, housing, and public accommodation is illegal. It can be empowering to stand up for yourself and others by filing a formal complaint with a local, state, or federal office of Civil Rights.

If you have come to realize you may have been sexist towards others, it’s important to make a change from this moment forward. It’s never okay to objectify someone, harm someone (physically, mentally, or emotionally), or to assume things about a person’s goals, abilities or emotions based on their sex or gender. From this moment forward, you can make a commitment to treating each person with dignity and respect, accepting people’s expression of themselves, and making amends whenever possible.

Interpersonal

We can interrupt sexism in any situation by calling attention to the issue and reasserting healthy boundaries. It’s not okay to exclude people, develop preconceived assumptions or expectations about people, treat people unequally, objectify someone, make fun of people, or to hurt or harm someone because of their sex or gender expression.

Systemic

We can ensure that all people, without exception, are guaranteed equal access to community opportunities, health care options, and basic human needs.