sexism

American  

[sek-siz-uhm] / ˈsɛk sɪz əm /

noun

1. attitudes or behavior based on traditional stereotypes of gender roles: Her husband saw their home life through a lens of sexism, and never once offered to help with the housework or the kids.

   the underlying sexism in the marketing of dolls to girls and trucks to boys;

   Her husband saw their home life through a lens of sexism, and never once offered to help with the housework or the kids.

2. discrimination or devaluation based on a person's sex or gender, as in restricted job opportunities, especially such discrimination directed against women.

   The investigation found that women face a culture of hostility and sexism.

3. ingrained and institutionalized prejudice against women.

   The idea that women are inferior to men is sexism at its purest.

4. hatred, dislike, or mistrust of women; misogyny.

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sexism British  

/ ˈsɛksɪzəm /

noun

1. discrimination on the basis of sex, esp the oppression of women by men

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sexism ¹ Cultural  

1. The belief that one sex (usually the male) is naturally superior to the other and should dominate most important areas of political, economic, and social life. Sexist discrimination in the United States in the past has denied opportunities to women in many spheres of activity. Many allege that it still does. (See also affirmative action, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, glass ceiling, and National Organization for Women.)

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sexism ² Cultural  

1. The belief that one sex (usually the male) is naturally superior to the other and should dominate most important areas of political, economic, and social life.

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Other Word Forms

• antisexism noun
• sexist noun

Etymology

Origin of sexism

First recorded in 1965–70; sex ¹ ( def. ) + -ism, on the model of racism

Example Sentences

She turned her attention toward two of her most deeply held interests, which had sharpened in focus after the Palisades fire: community-oriented work, and the pervasive problem of sexism in American culture.

From Los Angeles Times

Packer also often underscored contemporary tensions mirrored in the plays: sexism, racism, antisemitism, violence.

From The Wall Street Journal

Articles tagged “critical” focused on a negative event, idea or time, including subjects of racism, sexism and imperialism.

From The Wall Street Journal

Following the conclusion of the tribunal, a spokesperson for the GMC said: "There is no place for antisemitism, sexism or misogyny in medicine, and we will always seek to strike off doctors for such conduct."

From BBC

The uphill nature of Lloyd’s battle to stamp out sexism and racism reflects endemic issues in the wider insurance world, according to people close to Lloyd’s.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• bias
• bigotry
• chauvinism
• inequality
• inequity
• prejudice