Sexism In Richard Russo's Horseman

Sexism in the workplace has been a topic of discussion amongst people for quite some time, seeing as women are more often than not treated under different circumstances and standards than their male colleagues. It is an unfortunate fact that women are often seen as inferior to their male counterparts which in turn, leads to the questioning of their ability to function in certain environments and perform certain tasks. For example, the authority of women is often challenged and they are not given the same respect as men. This issue is presented in numerous work environments, including college campuses, in which the issue is a serious one. In the short story, “Horseman” by Richard Russo, the protagonist, a female college professor names Janet …show more content…
You can tell from his demeanor that he does not respect what the professor has to say even though he knows he was caught in the wrong. In this instance, sexism is displayed as a real issue in the story as it does make a difference that the protagonist is a female college professor rather than a male because it causes the student to act in a different manner than he perhaps would with a male professor. This displays the biases and struggles women in authority face on a daily basis. Most people do not see women as having real authority or the ability to be assertive and as a result of that, women aren’t given the regard they deserve. Russo’s story is just one example that effectively showcases the very real problem of sexism that is present in most …show more content…
He is described as sitting in their conference with “feigned astonishment” and the way he speaks to her is altogether disrespectful. He speaks to her as though it was unfortunate he got caught but that he was not sorry he did it. The interview is brought to an end when he stands up and terminates it himself rather than having the professor dismiss him. As he walks out of the room he also offers her advice on how to handle the situation which strikes the reader as a bit condescending. Had the professor been male rather than female, the interview certainly would have not gone down in a similar fashion. A male professor would have been thought to have more authority and this student would not have disrespected him so plainly or acted so rudely. For example, had Moore’s male colleague Tony Hope been the one to catch James Cox plagiarizing, Cox most likely would have been a little more submissive and respectful of the situation. Moore, being a woman, is not seen as having such authority. At one point in the story it is stated, “Students cheated more often in her classes than those of her male colleagues, just as they were more often tardy, more openly questioning of her authority, and more often gave her a mediocre evaluation at the end of each term.” This quote highlights the differences faced by male