The following article was written by Antonia Sandbank and Sarah Verweyen as part of the trait d`union online workshop “The fight against discrimination and the discussion on how to” between editors from Liceo Sesto Properzio di Assisi/Italy and Gisela-Gymnasium Munich/Germany in March 2022.

We would like to thank dkatana and pixabay for the use of the photo.

Gender Discrimination and Sexism

What is gender discrimination?

• a type of discrimination which is based on the gender of the person

• usually, women are treated differently

• a common type of discrimination happening throughout the world, also in the developed countries.

•  when you treat an employee unfairly because they are a man or a woman

What is the problem with gender discrimination?

• far too many girls, especially those from the poorest families, still face gender discrimination in education, child marriage and pregnancy as well as sexual violence and unrecognized domestic work

• unequal pay: On average, American women are more educated than men

• sexual harassment: An obstacle that many women face in the workforce is sexual harassment ...

• racism ...

• women are promoted less often than men

• fear of asking to be paid what you`re worth

How can we reduce gender discrimination?

• end violence and sexual assault against women

• remove the gender pay gap. The gender pay gap measures the difference in average earnings between male and female employees.

• make work-life balance a priority

Where does it affect people?

School

Surely the school environment is full of continuous discrimination against girls.

In Italy, for example, girls can`t wear shorts or tank tops, while boys can. This has been a much discussed topic lately, especially for the statements of an Italian school that ended up on the news and triggered a “revolt” of students. The basic concept was that girls did not have to be provocative towards students and teachers. The real question is: is it the girls’ fault? Or rather the society we live in? The only possible solution to this problem is education; it`s time to teach people to control themselves, so that everyone can wear what they like without fear of being judged.

The workplace

Sexism and gender discrimination also have a big impact in the workplace. Women get paid far less than men in general but often while doing exactly the same job. The gender pay gap is still far from being closed. In 2020 Germany the gap amounted to 18%, one of the highest percentages. In Italy, on the other hand, it was one of the lowest, only 4%. Why?

➔ More research is needed, why it`s far higher in Germany than in Italy!

Women have far less chance of advancing in their careers than men. This is connected with the fact that it is mostly women who take parental leave. When hiring women, most bosses still consider that the woman probably will have children, go on maternity leave and, because of that, will not be able to work for some time. Another point is that some jobs just aren`t made possible for women. For example, a pilot has to redo a flying test every 6 months. But a pregnant woman isn`t allowed to fly. So, either she can`t have children or has to give up her job.

How to handle discrimination based on gender

Speak out about your own experiences

If you are in a risky situation (for example: a person walks too close to you), you have to alert an authority figure (e.g. a member of staff on public transport) who can be encouraged to step in and be part of the solution.

Call out discrimination in the media and advertising

You can write to advertisers, marketers and media outlets if you come across stories that portray women and girls in an unfair way.

You can orient yourself to these questions:

• Are there gender stereotypes in your textbooks at school?

• Does a film you`ve watched have fewer speaking roles for women?

If you find out who is responsible, you can let them know your opinion. You cannot support entertainment that discriminates against women and girls.

Support other campaigners

A great way is to join other people who strive for gender equality. Try to find a campaign group, for example, join or set up school societies for gender equality and female leadership. The strength of more voices is stronger.

It’s ok not to challenge discrimination every time you see it.

We can`t fix the world alone. We are all part of the same movement. You can be proud if you achieve a small step towards your goal.