I sadly realized this weekend how sexist we, as a society, still are. This may sound ridiculous to some of you but it’s so prevalent in the smallest of things. Football is already a hot button issue with me but I’ve discovered yet another reason not to follow it. Ok let me explain the situation. A group of people were at a friends house Saturday evening. Before everyone showed up some of the guys had a football game on. As the night went on most of the guests migrated into another room where they were playing a game, and a few of us were watching TV just hanging out. A few guys were still interested in the football game so when their turn was up in the game they were playing they would come an turn the TV to see the scores, which is understandable. But they never knew which channel and had to flip through several and of course the guys wanted to see different games and all came over at different times. So this was a little bit aggravating when your trying to watch something else, but ok. In the mist of all this people were constantly walking in and out standing in front of the TV and chatting, which can be tolerated since there are so many people and so much going on. The girls trying to watch just sat there quietly. Then it suddenly dawned on me. If the situation were reversed and the guys were watching their game they would one, have had a fit if anyone wanted to watch something else and interrupt their football game, and two, which I’ve personally witnessed on several occasions, god forbid someone stand in front of a TV when a football game is on, guys will start yelling. The conclusion I came to is that everyone excepts this… even the females. We’re expected to sit quietly and let the guys do as they wish, and we do. I am really bothered by this. This just shows me how deeply rooted sexism really is, and it’s sickening. Yes, this is a minor and trivial thing to happen but it’s the underlying repressed action that bothers me. How can we change things when we don’t even realize something we are doing is wrong?
Some of you may think I’m over analyzing or being over sensitive to the situation. Maybe your right. But I bet most of you haven’t made a connection that among all different species females are still more exploited, used, and abused than any of the male species. Take for example any of the following, cows, chickens, or pigs. The males are beefed up and sent to slaughter. The females however endure months of hard abusive work and are in tortuous conditions while in the end still meeting the same fate at their male counterparts. Maybe because of knowing this I have become more sensitive to how humans still act in sexist ways where females are still exploited and not considered to be equal. Don’t get me wrong, I know female humans have it so much better than any other female species. I would never compare our suffering because I know we suffer nothing compared to the hens, cows, and pigs being made into slaves to satisfy.
hehe well I know we talked about this a little but I to some extent agree with you. Your not expected to sit quietly you just do and I think that is one reason whether male or female someone will walk all over you. It goes back to the strong picking on the weak. I know your intentions lead to equality but I know you want revenge hehe. Instead of arguing with someone depending on the situation try and find a compromise I know your better than that. I’m not saying that you should let him have his way but fighting should be the last resort. Yes we live in a sexist and racist world and that is how we are raised even though it is not intentional. I really don’t know what you were getting at with the whole animal thing because the only reason they are used before they are slaughtered is not because they are female but because they provide eggs or milk and can produce more animals to slaughter. Society is very influencing but it is changing because people are seeing what is going on. Our generation might not get it right but at least we will be a step closer to achieving a better life for everyone. We live on this planet together and we should all have the same rights no matter what sex, color, or species.
Maybe I didn’t mean expected, but it’s accepted that this behavior happens. I’m not sure what wanting revenge has to do with anything I’ve said, or if your just making a general statement about me. my point of sharing this story has nothing to do what the actual story. it’s about all of our actions and what is accepted by all of us. as far as the animals, is it because they are female. it’s not a females fault she is born with the ability to produce milk, for her newborn (calf, piglet etc.) but because of this ability females are more over worked than males. it’s just a fact, and it’s not right. just like years ago people of a different skin color were enslaved so are the animals. they are being made to work against their wishes but have no choice or say in the matter. i of course couldn’t afree more with your last statement. more people need to wake up if we want to preserve anything for the generations to come.