Why a Blog on Sexist Remarks?
From those experiences, the idea for this blog began to take shape. What if each of us began to address sexist remarks—in the moment—as we face them in everyday activities: at work, at home, in the grocery store, or at the doctor’s office? Would we make a difference? The two examples above would suggest that speaking up can make a difference, while holding your tongue typically will leave you feeling angry or sad. Why not take the risk in safe venues?
But doing so is worth it only if we begin to address sexist comments in ways that help everyone involved understand the impact of gender-biased words and, when possible, leave them feeling comfortable about the interaction. So we created this site, where women and men can share how they effectively deal with sexist remarks in everyday life.
We hope that Stop Sexist Remarks: Creating Change One Conversation at a Time becomes a tool for people to refocus the language we use with and about women. We dedicate it to all the women and men pioneers who light the way for others by being first, who take a stand for what is just, and who speak up when it would be easier to remain silent.
So speak up for yourself or your wife, sisters, daughters, and granddaughters—and model your values for your brothers, sons, and grandsons—whenever you encounter sexist comments. And then share on this blog what worked for you.
Together we can discover the best approach to ending sexist remarks.
Steve and Cynthia
