Sexism

According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics (Spraggins, 2005), the median income for full-time, year-round female employees is $9,000 less than that of their male equivalents. Nationwide, Caucasian women typically earn 70 cents for every dollar earned by Caucasian men. Although females make up just 51% of the U.S. population, they account for 56% of Americans living in poverty. Even though it is true that discrimination directed toward females has decreased over the past several decades, it is still more difficult for a female to gain and retain a professional position than it is for a comparable male jobseeker. Once employed, it is currently more arduous for a female employee to be promoted at work than it is for a male employee with identical qualifications (Crosby & Stockdale, 2007). On reading these facts and figures, one may ask why such disparities exist between males and females. In answering such a question, most would indicate that sexism or gender discrimination is to blame. Furthermore, if asked, most people would probably agree that such difficulties continue to plague women.

Keywords: sexism; chauvinism; ambivalent sexism