No matter how busy you are, you can help change how we talk about women and girls in our culture. Below are three simple things that you can do now to help stop sexist remarks:
- Change your own behavior. Listen to how you think and speak about women and men—pay attention to the times when you find yourself thinking or saying, “Oh that’s just like a woman (or a man),” or any variation on that theme. You might be surprised how often each of us actually thinks or makes statements about women and men that are based on old values that do not reflect our desire to create a culture of gender equality. Begin to filter out thoughts and stop using phrases that are not based on fact and do not promote gender equality.
- Talk with your family about sexist remarks. Select a time to talk about the importance of stopping sexist remarks—whether it is in response to something you hear on television or to a sexist comment made in front of your children. Use these times to help your family define how they feel about gender equality and the role they want to play in promoting it during everyday conversations.
- Talk about the need to stop sexist remarks in the culture with someone new whenever an appropriate opportunity presents itself. Decide this year to talk to your friends, neighbors, and colleagues about the need to respond to sexist remarks in your daily lives. When a sexist comment is made, whether on the news, in the cul-de-sac, or at a local sporting event, choose one of the other people involved to discuss what happened, how you felt about it, and why it would be helpful to begin to jointly respond to sexist comments. Be sure to try this in environments that are appropriate (safe) for you and with people you believe would be interested and supportive. Begin building coalitions in your life for addressing remarks that diminish women.
