Published in 2018 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
29 East 21st Street, New York, NY 10010
Copyright 2018 by The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
First Edition
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Hand, Carol, 1945- author.
Title: Everything you need to know about sexism / Carol Hand. Description: New York : Rosen Publishing, 2018 | Series: The need to know library | Audience: Grades 7-12. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017022210| ISBN 9781508176800 (library bound) | ISBN 9781508176794 (pbk.) | ISBN 9781508176824 (6 pack) Subjects: LCSH: SexismJuvenile literature. | Sex discrimination against womenJuvenile literature. | Sex roleJuvenile literature. Classification: LCC HQ1237 .H36 2018 | DDC 305.3 dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017022210
Manufactured in the United States of America
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
T eresa Shook is a retired lawyer from Hawaii. She was very upset when Donald Trump was elected president. She knew others were, too. She wanted to show that many women rejected Trumps disrespectful attitudes toward women and minorities. On the evening of Election Day 2016, Shook wrote a Facebook post. She proposed a Womens March in Washington, DC. According to the Washington Post, she had ten thousand positive responses by the next morning. The numbers continued to grow. Shook was overwhelmed. She let veteran activists plan the march.
Planners wanted to make a strong statement against Donald Trumps presidency. They decided to hold the Womens March the day after his inauguration, January 21,2017. Inauguration crowds were much smaller than usual. But the Womens March was huge. The New York Times reported that it was at least three times as large as the inauguration. The Guardian later placed the attendance at one million. Whole familiesmen, women, children, and grandparentsmarched. The march was very peaceful. There were no arrests.
At the same time, sister marches occurred around the United States and the world. The Guardian reported 500,000 marchers in Los Angeles, 250,000 in Chicago, 200,000 in New York, 100,000 in Boston, and thousands in other cities. Those who could not travel staged marches in their hometowns. Americans abroad, with local supporters, formed huge crowds in London, Paris, Mexico City, Sydney, and other cities. USA Today reported that an estimated 2.6 million people participated in 673 marches in all fifty states and thirty-two countries. There was even a small march in Antarctica.
Despite a miNion protesters in Washington, DC, the Womens March on January 21, 2017, was totally peaceful. No arrests were reported. The same was true in other cities.
Many people marched against Trump. They protested his sexism by wearing pink knitted pussy hats. They objected to his campaign promises to limit womens health and reproductive rights. They objected to his hate- and insult-ridden campaign. He had insulted many groups, including Hispanics, Muslims, blacks, war heroes, and disabled people.
Organizers and marchers had a positive, inclusive message. They marched for people of all genders, all colors, the LGBTQ+ community, and immigrants and refugees. Their goal, described in Vox, was to affirm our shared humanity and pronounce our bold message of resistance and self-determination. They rallied around the statement by Hillary Clinton (whom Trump defeated) that womens rights are human rights. They wanted to emphasize that all people should control their own bodies.
On Facebook, a woman named Christy said the march was unnecessary. If Americans dont have everything they need, she said, its their own fault. Marching would not change that. Many followers agreed with her. Communication strategist Susan Speer answered Christys comments. Speer said, I didnt march because I personally feel marginalized. I marched because I can. I marched because a lot of women cant, even if you dont see them. Speer marched for women facing prejudice because they have same-sex partners. She marched for women who have minimum wage jobs, lack access to health care, and have no way to get an education. Speer and other marchers stood up for these people in need.
What did the march accomplish? I think it will be remembered as the biggest march on Washington ever, said march founder Theresa Shook. I am hearing from a lot of people that it ... woke up their activism and their love of their country. A lot of women said they had been quiet, and they wont be quiet anymore.
D onald Trumps election became a rallying cry for women around the country. Trumps language was demeaning toward women. On a video made public during his campaign, he bragged that his fame helped him take sexual advantage of women. When interviewed by Anderson Cooper of CNN, he said, Its just words and just locker room talk. Trump often bases his opinions of women only on their looks. Reporter Claire Cohen listed terms he has used to describe women. These included fat, pig, dog, slob, and disgusting animal.
Trump says he has no time for political correctness. This is avoiding words and phrases that offend or hurt certain people or groups. The rules of political correctness may change as the culture changes. But avoiding such words or expressions often just requires courtesy and respect. Women have fought back against Trumps sexist words and actions. They began with the Womens March. They planned ways to make their voices heard during the Trump administration. Many have never before been political. But they are running for political office. They are tired of sexism, and they plan to do something about it.
Donald Trump is well-known for saying whatever he thinks. His judgments of women based on their appearance are a form of sexism.
What exactly is sexism? Does it really exist? Does it matter what words are used to describe women? Evidence shows that sexism is very real. Sexist attitudes toward women carry over into all aspects of their lives.
SOME DEFINITIONS
Sexism occurs when women are treated unfairly and differently from men. It is a form of prejudice or discrimination. People who show prejudice are biased against a group, such as women. Their opinion about the group is not based on facts or evidence. They show disrespect, intolerance, or hatred. Prejudice is a feeling or attitude, rather than an action. Discrimination involves action. It is unfair or biased treatment of a group of people. Prejudice and discrimination cause harm to the group or to individuals.