Sexism Against Men

Sexism against men is a controversial topic; some would argue the unequivocal existence of this type of sexism, while others argue the impossibility of its existence, especially when taking historical and cultural factors into consideration. The debate is often swayed by the definition of sexism that is being referenced. Merriam-Webster defines sexism as “prejudice or discrimination based on sex” or “behavior, conditions, or attitudes that foster stereotypes of social roles based on sex” (Merriam-Webster, 2016). In “the Psychology of Gender” (2012), Vicki Helgeson also defines sexism similarly, as “prejudice toward people based on their sex” (pg. 9). While these definitions seem straightforward, there’s a whole other school of thought regarding sexism. In the book, “Is Everyone Really Equal?”, the authors, DiAngelo and Sensoy, argue that there is a difference between discrimination based on sex and sexism. According to them, discrimination is common among everyone, but sexism can only come from the “group [that] has the social, historical, and institutional power to back their prejudice and infuse it throughout the entire society” - in this case: men (pg. 43). So where does that leave sexism against men?