IT’S RARE THAT a day goes by without women encountering some form of casual sexism.
Whether it’s someone calling you ‘good girl’ for doing your job despite being an adult woman or being accused of putting men in the ‘friend zone’ for not being attracted to them, it can be a tough world out there.
If we somehow manage to evade the everyday sexism in our own lives, a lot of newspapers (*cough Daily Mail cough*) are on hand to pick up the slack and remind us that we’re not flawless, perfect human beings.
Here are a few cracking examples:
1. A story about a very expensive hoover
Listen we all need a decent hoover. However, putting this in the ‘Femail’ section is a bit sexist. Men are well capable of doing the hoovering and may also want to splash out on this ridiculously priced gadget.
2. The countless stories about weight loss
Ridiculous beauty standards are nothing new. However, being constantly reminded that there is something wrong with you if you don’t conform to a very specific set of beauty standards is not fun.
Google ‘weight loss’ and you’ll get countless articles targeted at women about how to lose weight ‘fast’. Oh look ANOTHER celebrity who lost baby weight incredibly quickly. Leave us alone. We’ll eat and lose our baby weight (if we want kids that is) at our own pace thanks.
3. Apparently it’s only women who can sort out the bin
The ‘Femail’ section strikes again. ‘WOMEN, FEMALES. GATHER AS I TELL YOU HOW TO SORT OUT YOUR BINS. THE MEN HAVE OTHER, MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO ATTEND TO’.
4. Giving you advice about ‘lady garden grooming’ that you never asked for
The opening line of this is should honestly should tell you enough. I doubt there’s many articles around telling men how to remain ‘fuzz free’. Do what you want with your pubes, braid them for all I care.
5. A woman not returning romantic feelings is somehow terrible
This is a classic case of twisting words. The guy in question says
We still talk on Facebook every now and again and after going through everything we have stayed friends,
However, the headline has the mysterious ‘friend zone’ splashed across it. ‘SHE DIDN’T RETURN HIS FEELINGS. SHE’S A WAGON’. It must be so much easier to be a man when you can just reject people with no repercussions.
6. A woman showing her legs is somehow sexy
Poor Avril Lavigne had the AUDACITY to step out with her boyfriend wearing a pair of boots. The woman displayed the fact she had lower limbs and thus must be deemed ‘leggy’. I look forward to the day any man is described as ‘leggy’ for wearing a pair of board shorts. Brave soul.
7. Do men ever have to wear ‘take me seriously’ outfits?
‘She has worn a coat. We can now take her seriously’.
8. A woman choosing to work is apparently harming her baby
We just can’t do anything right can we? Where is the article telling me my dad is a bad parent because he chose to work instead of staying at home? Ah yes. They don’t really exist.
9. You know it’s only women who need to get sexy for Valetine’s Day right?
Listen I’m not against sexy lingerie but unless I see more articles telling mean what sort boxers are flattering for their figure, these kind of articles can go in the bin.
