The definition of the term sexism is as follows:
sex·ism
ˈsekˌsizəm/
noun
prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, typically against women, on the basis of sex.
Somehow, in Australia in the year 2018, that definition seems to be about the only thing that most people agree on when it comes to this topic (and even then, there are parts of it that are in question).
In truth, sexism is certainly one of the most complicated – and important – issues facing people today, not only in Australia but around the globe. While it’s certainly true that people’s experiences tend to vary wildly, the key thing to understand is that people are still having them. Every single day, to the point where it’s become sadly a “normal” part of life for many people.
The State of Sexism Today
There are people in Australia today (and indeed, around the world) who insist that we’ve moved beyond issues like sexism as a society. Those people are at best a tad too optimistic about the situation, and at worst are willfully ignoring something that impacts the lives of countless people every year.
The truth is that sexism is alive and well in Australia. It’s also an issue that does not itself discriminate – it can affect males and females, young people or old people, lower class or upper class – it doesn’t actually matter.
Case in point: one liberal senator recently came out and said that sexism, intimidation and other forms of boorish behaviour were “widespread” in Australian politics, especially behind closed doors. Not only did she say that she saw other senators pushed to tears thanks to the mass amounts of pressure being placed on them amid the ongoing leadership turmoil, but things have gotten so bad that she’s also threatening to use parliamentary privilege to “name names” and hopefully put a stop to the issue once and for all.
But she’s certainly not alone.
Another recent study revealed that a full 80% of Australian women say that they’re not treated equally to men. Regardless of where you work or what your job is, being faced with comments like “I think all women should wear heels, I just can’t take them seriously otherwise” has become the “norm.” The Australia Institute even did a study that revealed a full 87% of Australian women have experienced at least one form of verbal or physical street harassment in their lifetimes.
There’s a flip side to this particular equation, too. One recent study revealed that millennial men say that woman are actually favoured in the workplace, which would be a situation of sexism from a slightly different perspective. A full 46% of people who responded to a survey said that current gender equality measures do not take men into account at all. 41% of men say that they believe political correctness gives women a significant advantage in the workplace. Another 42% said that gender equality measures tend to exclude men entirely.
The Aftermath of Sexism
It’s also important to note that sexism, bullying and similar types of issues are a direct contributor to another one of the most pressing situations facing Australia today: suicide. According to one recent study, suicide was the leading cause of death among people between the ages of 15 and 44-years-old in 2016. Interestingly, men are literally 300% more likely to take their own lives than women. Despite this, an estimated 62% of the people who are hospitalised every year due to self-harm are female.
So yes, sexism is a real problem – but it also goes far beyond that initial encounter. It has very real ramifications that affect people in terrible ways and it’s absolutely something we should all be taking seriously moving forward.
If you or someone you care about is struggling don’t be afraid to reach out for help
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Lifeline text: 0477 13 11 14
Mensline: 1300 78 99 78
LiveTribe: Because Everyone Deserves a Chance to Make Their Voice Heard
Again – sexism is an issue that can affect all of us. Man or woman, young or old, it doesn’t actually matter. Because of that, you’ve likely experienced it in some form or another yourself – and the chances are high that you have your own very strong opinions on the topic. We encourage you to make your opinions known by participating in our ongoing discussion called “Have You Experienced Sexism” that you can find right here.
