ISSUES ---- important discussions

More Sexism Stories

I've gotten a bunch of pms from users about when they've experienced sexism. So many that separate chapters for them would make for a lot of chapters, so I'll put these into one, starting from the most recent.

Most recently, @RavenclawPrincess03 messaged me with a story about her 8th grade teacher treating girls unfairly in class. All messages will be in italics, as usual.

I was in Grade 8 and my homeroom teacher was a male and he was also my science and my math teacher. And in our class and other classes, he would always put us girls in the front and all the boys in the back. And whenever a girl would ask for help, he would lean in really close to us, which made us all feel uncomfortable. And whenever we had a test, he would go around and only give hints to the girls. He never inappropriately touched a girl that I know of but it was so uncomfortable and it got to the point where most of the girls who were in his class wore shirts that wear up to their necks and baggy sweaters and avoid asking for help after class because that is how uncomfortable he made us. And the boys never felt uncomfortable (that I know of) which was unfair because if they get to feel comfortable then shouldn't we get to feel comfortable.

It's just the small stuff that can be so harmful, like this. I've said this before and I'll say it again, THIS IS NORMAL AND IT SHOULD NOT BE NORMAL

The second message is from @-BisexuALIEN- :

I actually was touched in 1st grade by a high schooler on my way to my babysitters house. I had to stay there late that night and my grandma picked me up and I told her I had a secret to tell her she said wait till we get home.. we got home and she picked me up and I whispered in her ear what happened... I cried cause I thought I did something wrong... I WAS 6!!!

At 12 in 6th grade me male cousin was over hanging with my parents and my mom made me stand in front of him and asked if he noticed anything different about me. He didn't so she had me turn to my side. She was showing him I now had boobs.

At 13 I met my best friends boyfriend and he liked me more and asked me to role play over text or he'd leave my friend and I tried to say things like I throw shoes at you, lock myself in the bathroom, etc. He threatened to leave my friend and she really liked him so I did what he asked. He broke up with her still and I had feeling by this time (he had groomed me to be his little toy) He then said I was too clingy and annoying and he told me he was gonna kill himself i found out he was at a friends and was safe.. he lied to me, used me, and broke me.   

This is awful. This person was 13 at the OLDEST in all of these stories. This is not okay. Really, it isn't okay at any age, but the fact that girls are told this young is horrible. And the fact that BOYS are taught this young as well. I've said it before and I'll say it again, no wonder it's so engrained into society.

This is from a user who deleted their account I'm pretty sure.

So the first thing is when I was bored, I watched videos of people being stupid and all. And one of the videos, it was a woman saying women have to stay home and cook and can't be presidents. And this is what my dad said."Why is that in the stupid video? Women can't be presidents, they have too many hormones and they aren't quick thinkers. Plus they aren't good under pressure, they'll just start crying." I was so angry. Like tf-Women can be presidents, but like none of my family agrees. And like my mom is teaching me how to cook food for the 'future and college' and I am 13, and my brother is going to college in a year, and he doesn't even know how to put his own milk in the microwave. And my grandma, she would always complain about how I'm fat and everything and say my brother is skinny when I'm 105 pounds and my brother is 200 pounds.

I can't even believe this could happen. The sexism is so blatant and it's outright disgusting. Women'll just start crying? College aged brother can't cook? The girl is "fat" at 105 pounds and the boy is skinny at 200? (I'm like 115 pounds if 105 is fat what does that make me-). Also those comments internalize fatphobia, as in this context the grandmother is using "fat" as an insult. It's a state of being, yes, and it isn't an insult. (although 105 pounds is not at all fat statistically)

From another user who elected to remain anonymous:

In the fourth grade I was very self conscious about my body and I usually wore baggy pants and a baggy dress. One day I decided to boost my self confidence and wore a short sleeves dress that reached my knees and it had an elastic band at the waist, and tights. I was at the playground minding my own business but then some boys walked over and they saw me and commented:"She's fat and skinny at the same time!""How is that possible?""Look at her!""Oooooo"

It hurt me and it was really disgusting how they looked at me, made comments like some very important critiques and went on with their day like they did nothing. And I hate how this is now normalized and girls all over the world starve themselves just to look pretty for some immature boys that will only appreciate their looks.

I sticked to baggy clothes after that.

This is just... it's so normal. Like I'm not surprised these comments happened, and yet it's so awful. You guys, we women have to deal with this crap on a day to day basis. To this user and to everyone, you are so much more than your body, and your body is not to be commented on. 

I'm fairly certain that's it, I've had a lot of dms for this and other things over the past week though, so let me know if your message didn't make it in there and I'll add it right away.