The concept of Pariah Femininities can be defined as certain types of women who are devalued or stigmatized by society. They include poor, coloured, disabled, and LGBTQ + women. Therefore, these women are considered less privileged and desirable; they face violence, discrimination and ridicule. Society should recognize all women to be equal and valuable. There should be gender equality, and society should strive to create an environment that will favour every individual.
Sexism is a huge problem in the modern world and needs to be handled. It involves discriminating and radicalizing one based on gender. Sexism is divided into two that is benevolent sexism and hostile sexism. Women are very oppressed by these two types of sexism. They are very harmful and contribute greatly to favouring one gender.
Benevolent sexism is used to promote traditional gender roles. It is positive sexism towards women but promotes and sends a message that women are weak. Benevolent sexism is characterized by offering help to women they did not ask for, carrying heavy luggage, and opening car and house doors for them. These behaviours show that women are weak and men take advantage. Benevolent sexism also takes place in office settings. Women are given fewer assignments because they are less strong than men, hindering them from promotion (Bonell et al., 2022).
Benevolent sexism hinders women from being innovative. It limits women and women feel very oppressed because they cannot be able to prove what they are capable of doing. Benevolent sexism is a huge problem because it is very hard to recognize it. Benevolent sexism is followed up by positive intentions and attitudes, leading to discrimination against women’s capabilities.
The main idea behind benevolent sexism is that women should be accommodating and passive. Women who try to change benevolent sexism are said to be violent or pushy. Benevolent sexism wants women to be traditional, but that cannot work because we live in a modern world. Things have changed, and so should culture change and recognize what women can do. As mentioned earlier, it can be very hard to recognize benevolent sexism because women are used to being pampered and treated securely; they cannot discuss hostile sexism.
Hostile sexism is very hostile towards women. It shows that men are superior to women, and society indicates that human beings should be equal (Martinez-Pecino et al., 2019). It is promoted through discrimination in workplaces, sexual harassment and gender-based violence. Hostile sexism is also patriarchal, which means men have a system that gives them authority and power over women. Patriarchy involves traditional gender roles where a man is to protect and provide, and a woman is to take care of the household and be submissive. Hostile sexism leads to male dominance.
Both hostile and benevolent sexism leads to the oppression of women in society. Society should create an environment where women cannot be oppressed. If society recognizes women, the modern world will improve, and we will have a lot of innovative women and women who can help men. Women should be promoted in their workplaces. Women should be given as enough assignments as men. Men should stop using women as objects. Men caught using women as objects should be punished and left to rot in a cell. Society should also include women in power. Women should be given authority and led by men. This will kill the concept of hostile sexism because men will obey leadership no matter who is leading. Women will encourage society that some cultural activities are outdated and need new ones to adapt to the environment.
Misogyny is a term that is used to attack women. Misogyny means that you hate women and bring contempt toward them (Wrisley, 2021). Misogyny is a huge societal problem because it discriminates and oppresses women, bringing society to a standstill. The root of misogyny began during patriarchal systems. The system has been used for so long, making to be a common thing.
The patriarchal system implies that men are superior and powerful in society where, as women are regarded as weak (Christ, 2016). In this system, men can dominate and control women. This traditional concept is backed up by social norms and culture, which needs to stop. Misogyny brings out many gender stereotypes; for example, men are supposed to be strong, controlling and hostile, while women are supposed to be submissive and, to men, tender. Culture, media and advertisement have made such actions to reinforce both men and women in our society.
Misogyny is also practiced in bringing out gender inequalities, such as the pay gap. Men tend to land good pay compared to women. Women are paid so little that they depend on men for their lives. Women land bad jobs because they are recommended to be weak. This is a form of oppression and dying women their right to get well-paying jobs in the market. Misogyny is also perpetuated through power and leadership. The government and also workplaces give men power and leadership. They do not regard women to be good leaders, and yet they are the ones who know how to take care of family matters. Misogyny is also seen where there is underfunding of women’s activities and programs that help them to be healthy.
The consequences of misogyny are many. Women are faced with hostility, discrimination and harassment. They include sexual assault, toxic relationships, domestic violence, and sexual harassment in their jobs. Women who try and come out and talk about misogyny are faced with hostility. This brings out psychological consequences. Women are faced with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and low self-esteem. Women will later feel that they are not valued in society and do not care about them, leading to shame and isolation.
To add, misogyny brings out perpetuated systemic inequalities. Misogyny does not only attack women individually, but it also attacks society. Misogyny brings out traditional gender roles and limits women from doing good stuff that will benefit society. If society continues to believe that men are more qualified than women, we have created a hostile environment. Women will be sexually harassed in their workplace if they need a promotion or going to look for a better-paying job, have a terrible public life, and they will also have a hard time getting education. Women will have a difficult time demanding equality.
Misogyny contributes to rape cases in the world. Women are treated as objects of sex. Media and advertisements have normalized it and made women seen as weak and passive. Media has tended to show that women cannot fight for themselves; hence, most victims face sexual harassment. Women come forward and report such cases, but in a society full of misogyny, people cannot hear their cases.
Women’s reproductive rights tend to be hindered by misogyny. Programs that support women’s health and welfare are underfunded. Women cannot be able to access abort babies that they conceived through rape, have contraceptive pills and have access to sanitary pads. Programs such as supporting women who have undergone rape, domestic violence, or sexual assault are cut or underfunded. This makes women feel isolated because they lack support in these difficult times.
Misogyny ideology is a huge problem in our society and must be solved. This ideology has its remedies, and it will be dismantled if it is actively followed. First, we must educate ourselves about the root cause and its consequences. Learning and understanding different types of sexism can help society avoid it. Knowing the history and the root cause of misogyny, we can come up with the good conclusion that it is very harmful to women and society.
Secondly, we need to support our women. Misogyny can be easily killed if we have equality in society. Employing and giving women the same opportunities as men will dismantle misogyny. Society can advocate for women to be promoted in their jobs and help them build businesses and organizations. Media and advertisements play a major role in gender stereotypes. The media has been portraying women as weak for a long time, and this needs to stop. Media can help to stop the perpetuation of misogyny by portraying a positive message and showing that women can do the same work as men. This will promote gender equality and stop gender stereotypes.
Institutions and individuals that portray the ideology of misogyny should be held accountable. Institutions and individuals should be at the front in reporting discrimination and harassment that are done to women. Institutions should come up with good policies that will promote gender equality. Institutions should also provide a safe environment for women to work in; women will be more productive and innovative if they work in such conditions. Individuals should also speak out about sexual behaviours and comments found in workplaces.
Most cases of misogyny lead to sexual violence. The law has not favoured victims because the laws are not harsh to people who commit crimes. The government should develop new and improved laws that will punish offenders heavily and make an example out of them. Having heavy punishments such as the death penalty will protect women. The government should also provide guidance and counsel to women who have been sexually harassed.
Society should engage in advocacy and activism to dismantle misogyny. Society should come up with peaceful demonstrations that will create awareness of gender equality, The society should demand changes and action to stop oppressing one gender. If society comes together, laws and policies will be made. Voices will be heard, and eventually, there will be gender equality.
The final remedy will be to engage in self-reflection. We can have new behaviours and beliefs by clearing our minds and dismantling any biases and prejudices. Society can change its perception and give each other chance to express opinions. This will help to reduce oppression in society.
To conclude, misogyny and sexism are very dangerous to society. Everyone needs to come out and help to promote equality in the society we live in. We live in a modern world, and systems such as the patriarchal need to stop. We need a system that will make women as equal to men. The job market should employ women and also give out more promotions to women. Government should also let women lead and give some power to represent women in society. Media should not only portray the negative side of women but also show what they are capable of doing. By doing all the above, we are able to do away with any type of sexism and misogyny.
Reference
Bonell, S., Lee, H., Pearson, S., Harris, E., & Barlow, F. K. (2022). Benevolent Sexism and the Traditional Sexual Script as Predictors of Sexual Dissatisfaction in Heterosexual Women from the US. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51(6), 3063–3070.
Christ, C. P. (2016). A new definition of patriarchy: Control of women’s sexuality, private property, and war. Feminist Theology, 24(3), 214–225.
Martinez-Pecino, R., & Durán, M. (2019). I love you, but I cyberbully you: The role of hostile sexism. Journal of interpersonal violence, 34(4), 812-825.
Wrisley, S. P. (2021). Feminist theory and the problem of misogyny. Feminist Theory, 14647001211039365.
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