🌈Casual about Casual Sexism?

Don't you find anything odd in asking "What's up, guys?" to a gathering and not even realizing that the group of people may include women too?

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What is Casual Sexism?

Identical to racism, sexism is a form of stereotypical thinking against a certain group, or class of society– in this case, based on their gender. Sometimes, these thinkings and prejudices can be quite obvious, and intentional while other times they are subtle and quite thoughtlessly or casually tossed off in a conversation.

For instance - Your colleague at work comes and haves a bite of lunch and expresses that "Your wife is a good cook". This is a perfect scenario of casual sexist remarks. Why? Your colleague is speculating that the lunch or food is something that is always prepared by women at home and they have no other job other than preparing food for husband and children. Why is it always the woman who prepares the lunch? Why can't it be the men at home prepare lunch? Or else in the worst-case scenario, it could have been the maid who packed the lunch. So, it is totally unfair to move to a conclusion or speculate that wives are home material.

How to avoid Casual Sexism?

The colleague should have replied, "The food is great! Who made it? Is it you or your wife?" This is a fair way of expressing your thoughts and avoiding a casual sexist remark.

Be very fair and cautious when you are making a comment as it might sound sarcastic to you but at the same time, it might dent others' morals and emotions. Most of the time one might unintentionally make a casually sexist remark which might hurt others' feelings. So be very precise and extremely careful when making a subtle comment.

Instances that you won't even realize that it is a casually sexist remark

• Waiters handing the cheques to the man at the table - Why women can't pay for the food/drink?

• Boys being told "Don't cry like girls" - Why men shouldn't cry?

• Girls being told "Don't sit like boys" - Why women should be always "women"?

• Women should not study Mechanical Engineering.

• Relatives asking women to lose weight to look pretty so that they can get married.

How to deal with Casual Sexism?

Obviously one can't change the minds of the family, relatives, and colleagues overnight. The casual sexism is so subtle that you won't realize that they have made an unfair comment and the only way to deal with them is - with courage and tactfulness. Don't rock the boat and outrightly bash them.

Fake laugh at them by saying - "Are you kidding?" or "How funny?" or something like "That's not even funny!"

Most people won't even realize that they are participating and propagating casual sexism. So take it light and try to make them understand how these subtle comments can hurt and dent one's sentiments.