Sexism

    Both of these pictures were taken at the novelty adult store Spencer’s.  The first picture shows a t-shirt with man aggressively pointing his finger in a woman’s face; the words on the shirt read “I HAVE THE DICK SO I MAKE THE RULES”.  The second picture shows a 1950’s style housewife in an apron making a recipe and the shirt reads “WIFE:  WASH IRON FUCK ETC”.

    Both of these pictures are examples of how individuals working in a sexist model interact.  In the first, the male is making a gesture that could be considered violent or potentially violent.  The woman is leaning in toward him, possibly arguing or complaining, so the implied assumption could be that the woman “deserves” the harsh treatment she is receiving from the male.  More explicitly, the verbiage on the shirt basically says that the woman does not have the freedom to make her own rules; thusly, she is being discriminated against because of her sex or gender.  The second shirt shows a woman dressed in 1950’s style clothing, a period that Betty Friedan criticized for its oppression of women, and carrying out the role of housewife by making food.  The text on the shirt further confirms that her primary roles should be limited to housewife and sexual object.  Again, these roles, oppressive in nature, are being placed on the female primarily because of her sex or gender.  The Redstockings Manifesto strongly emphasizes the role of individuals in sexist society.  Reinforcing the views that are on these shirts, the manifesto reads “[Women] are exploited as sex objects, breeders, domestic servants, and cheap labor.”  The document goes on to read, “All other forms of exploitation and oppression are extensions of male supremacy:  men dominate women…”  I’ve found items such as these in our society as very inappropriate and disturbing, especially in light of achieving social equality.

    I remember from a very early age how sexist norms were applied to me.  For instance, when playing house or ‘make pretend’ with my male cousins, I would always be a mother or a housewife staying at home and completing chores.  Also, I had no say in what sort of games we could play as my female opinion was often dismissed.  So, even in that small of an example, my opportunities as a female were very limited and I literally had to play by the male’s rules.