Throughout my eighteen years of life, I have yet to see the world without sexism. I wake up in the morning, look at myself in the mirror, and tell myself that I can do everything a man can do. But that idea quickly leaves as soon as I step out into the real world. The idea that women are “housewives” has been around for centuries and it is not anywhere close to being extinguished. Many people think that sexism is not an ongoing problem in the 21st century, or they are unclear about what the word sexism means. Sexism is the stereotyping, or discrimination against gender. It is the common misconception that women are not able to do all things that men can and that they belong at home. Although gender prejudice often affects males, it is typically
…show more content…
The Van Heusen ad portrays women as housewives. The woman is serving her husband breakfast in bed while still in a robe. The robe makes it seem as if the woman is not going to be leaving the house that day. Women were anticipated to be all of these things and nothing less. If they did not perform these “jobs” they would be viewed as undesirable and unsuited to be a wife. This ad for neck ties clearly shows how women were depicted in the 1950s, and still to this day, women are often shown in that light. But even today, in 2016, women still put up with their fair share of gender discrimination. The gender pay gap, the double standards, the cat calling. In Reading Bodies, an essay written by Susan Bordo, she states “In countless movies, we’ve grown used to seeing women take off their clothes for sex, or to display themselves erotically, or to be unsuspectingly spied on. The act of getting undressed is an act of uncovering, exposing; a secret sexual self is revealed.” (Bordo, 111). This is a perfect example of how women are treated differently than men. The woman in the ad is fully covered, if she was in lingerie many people would be offended. If a woman is seen without a shirt on, she is automatically assumed a slut or a whore. If a man has his shirt off, people don’t think …show more content…
We, as Americans, have grown accustomed to gender discrimination. So many things in our everyday life portrays inequality; advertisements, books, television shows. In an excerpt from Reading Popular Culture, author Jean Kilbourne writes “Advertising in our environment. We swim in it as fish swim in water. We cannot escape it.” (Kilbourne, 89). Advertising is all around us on a daily basis. There is no way to avoid it. Many Americans are unaware of the fact that sexism surrounds us and that is has the ability to influence our everyday lives. Sexism is so common that it is often overlooked. We as a nation need to step up and fight the continuing obstacle of gender stereotyping.
I believe that one day, discrimination and gender prejudice against women, will be a thing of the past. I want young girls to be able to look themselves in the mirror, and see more than a potential housewife. I want them to believe that they can be anything they want to be, whether that’s a doctor, a librarian, or even the President of the United States. Women are just as capable as men, and deserve more than to stay at home all day. It is time the world realizes
The Van Heusen ad portrays women as housewives. The woman is serving her husband breakfast in bed while still in a robe. The robe makes it seem as if the woman is not going to be leaving the house that day. Women were anticipated to be all of these things and nothing less. If they did not perform these “jobs” they would be viewed as undesirable and unsuited to be a wife. This ad for neck ties clearly shows how women were depicted in the 1950s, and still to this day, women are often shown in that light. But even today, in 2016, women still put up with their fair share of gender discrimination. The gender pay gap, the double standards, the cat calling. In Reading Bodies, an essay written by Susan Bordo, she states “In countless movies, we’ve grown used to seeing women take off their clothes for sex, or to display themselves erotically, or to be unsuspectingly spied on. The act of getting undressed is an act of uncovering, exposing; a secret sexual self is revealed.” (Bordo, 111). This is a perfect example of how women are treated differently than men. The woman in the ad is fully covered, if she was in lingerie many people would be offended. If a woman is seen without a shirt on, she is automatically assumed a slut or a whore. If a man has his shirt off, people don’t think …show more content…
We, as Americans, have grown accustomed to gender discrimination. So many things in our everyday life portrays inequality; advertisements, books, television shows. In an excerpt from Reading Popular Culture, author Jean Kilbourne writes “Advertising in our environment. We swim in it as fish swim in water. We cannot escape it.” (Kilbourne, 89). Advertising is all around us on a daily basis. There is no way to avoid it. Many Americans are unaware of the fact that sexism surrounds us and that is has the ability to influence our everyday lives. Sexism is so common that it is often overlooked. We as a nation need to step up and fight the continuing obstacle of gender stereotyping.
I believe that one day, discrimination and gender prejudice against women, will be a thing of the past. I want young girls to be able to look themselves in the mirror, and see more than a potential housewife. I want them to believe that they can be anything they want to be, whether that’s a doctor, a librarian, or even the President of the United States. Women are just as capable as men, and deserve more than to stay at home all day. It is time the world realizes