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

Explanation

Sexism means discrimination against people because of their sex: anything unfair to males or females, just because they're males or females, is an example of sexism. Sexism is one of those things that has always existed, and probably always will exist, but does seem to get a little better with time. When women couldn't vote, that was blatant sexism. When women are paid less than men for the same work, that's sexism. In school, when teachers call on boys more than girls, many people think that is an example of sexism. Sexism is similar to racism; they are both types of discrimination.

Example Sentences

The band played gigs for Rock Against Sexism, but disagreed on their personal definitions of feminism, or what makes music political.

From Salon • Jul. 22, 2025

Sexism and sexual harassment should not be ignored or treated as a perk of stardom, nor should it be papered over with consciousness-raising and workplace training.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2023

Sexism and ageism also made her a target, analysts say.

From Washington Post • Apr. 3, 2023

And she adds she feels strongly that the Everyday Sexism project "was never about me" - but "testament to the power of the hundreds of thousands of people who have raised their voices".

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2019

Sexism would be vanquished, inequality would be diluted to the point of non-existence.

From New York Times • Mar. 3, 2018

Related Words

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