How to Help Women Facing Sexism

Not every woman is lucky enough to work or live in a place where people are equal. In many companies and even cities, women still face a massive amount of sexism. They are treated as the lesser of the sexes or worse, aren't valued for their own contributions. Helping women confront and handle sexism creates equal footing on the home front and in the workplace.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Positive Attitude
• Strong Support System
• Good Lawyer

1. Change your attitude. In order to deserve equal treatment when you are facing sexism, you must believe that you actually deserve to be treated equally. This applies to all aspects of life and not just the workplace. A positive attitude or mental image of yourself is essential to making what you want to happen actually happen.
2. Stand your ground whenever you face sexism. By allowing yourself to be bullied or pushed into submissive thinking, you give people with sexist attitudes and beliefs the right as well as the approval to treat you as less than you are. Backing down from being equal should never be a decision you make.
3. Question people's reasons for having a sexist attitude. Before you can confront someone on why they have sexist beliefs, familiarize yourself with why they may think that way. If necessary, come forth and ask what makes them think that women aren't valued.
4. Understand the difference between sexism and harassment. The lines of the two are often blurred. Sexism is the belief that one gender is not as good as another. It is also the attitude that one gender has more power, and is superior than the other. While harassment is actual behaviors that people carry out in order to belittle, discriminate, threaten and intimidate another person.
5. Build a support network of women to help you through the challenges of sexism. You can use the support group as a network similiar to what men call a "boy's club". Through your network women can learn about sexism and warn other women of places or companies that may be considered network. Resources throughout the community can teach the many faces and attitudes about women in general.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn to love and accept yourself.
• If sexism crosses the line, consult an attorney for guidance.
• Know when to walk away from a volatile situation.
• Do not stoop to the level of other sexist attitudes
• Don't associate yourself with people who believe sexist attitudes are acceptable.
• Don't assume every comment or action is a sexist attitude.