TED Conversations

Samantha Morlan

This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »

Why is it racism is put on a higher pedestal for hatred than sexism?

I have seen this throughout both my life and history; each time it makes me think harder on it. What I want to know is why sexism is not as frowned upon as racism. For example, if a white male makes a racist joke, everyone gets very angry, however, if the same man makes a sexist joke everyone laughs. That is a kinder way of representing it. But this is seen almost everywhere in different forms.

Topics: Women empowerment feminism men sexism women
+1
Share:
progress indicator
  • thumb

    Tim Colgan 50+

    • +1
    May 13 2011: Samantha: An interesting sidenote in support of your argument:

    In the US african-american men were given the right to vote in 1870 (15th amendment). Women were enfranchised in 1920 (19th amendment)
  • thumb

    Salim Solaiman 50+

    • 0
    May 13 2011: Love & Lust can easily ignore all differences so we can see cross race love and lust common & this more physiolosical phenomenon.

    While in racism it's more socio cultural & psychological phenomenon driven mostly be GREED. Thats what I feel brings the differences.
    Moreover female are historically supressed by religion, culture and society , so it is not perceived in most cases as a threat , but racism does in this male dominated world.

    That might be the reason.

  • Samantha Morlan

    • 0
    May 12 2011: Well if you ever read about Condaleeza Rice when she was in the White House it is very interesting how sh was treated when compared to the others. Also, in most white collar jobs you barely ever see a woman at the top. Advertising also uses sex to sell and this is a form of sexism. I don't care if some women are okay with it, I just want to know why sexism is not seen as a big deal. Also in sociological studies it has been found that on the average for the US women are still payed less for the same job.

  • Deaven Morris

    • 0
    May 12 2011: Austin's point should be sufficient, but I will add another point, at least as I this issue in North American society.

    Women defer to men out of their own accord. They do it all the time. How is that the fault of men that women choose to submit over and over again? If you want a higher paying job, assert yourself, if you want a to get paid like men do, assert yourself and demand it.
    Sexism is overrated.

    As far as the jokes go...
    We find it funny because of all of us are interested in sex. I think you'll find that that the people who are making the most jokes in this regard are sexually insecure. And this is not some "they make fun of you but THEY are lame", catty and childish comment, it's the truth.
    • thumb

      Debra Smith 200+

      • 0
      May 13 2011: As uncomfortable as it is for me to admit, I see your point about submission, Deaven.
      How, if that is true, and women are doing it either out of the hard wiring of the brain or from social conditioning, will we get past these behaviours and thus the cooperation with our own second class status?
      In the past our biological role of lifebearers kept us more vulnerable but that time has mostly passed. Will it just take time for women to assume and wear the mantle of equality?
      Some religious folk would go back to the garden of Eden and the curse that was put upon women there "Your pains in child birth will be multiplied and your desire will always be for your husband".

  • Addison Rennick 30+

    • 0
    May 12 2011: For the same reason people didn't have a problem with slavery 500 years ago.
  • thumb

    Debra Smith 200+

    • +1
    May 12 2011: I hear you! We would utterly boycott nations that kept 50% of their citizens by race without basic human rights and yet its business as usual with countries that do not even accord women fundamental personhood.

    Sexism confronts and challenges us in our very being because the 'other' could be our mother, our daughter, our wives or our coworkers - parts of us and of our daily lives. We have to address 'the other' every day in our every exchange. Thus, changing our relationships with women requires something fundamental in us. It hits too close to home and it might require us to walk the talk ourselves if we took it seriously.
  • thumb

    Talip OZDEMIR

    • +1
    May 12 2011: I think it's all because of 1ity.

    Number of Races>Number of Sexes

    If some doctors invent 2 hearted human in close future, the hatred between people have 2hearts and normal ones will be more pedestal than sexism.

    Even they try to create marketing purposed 2+ sexes, the number will never be more than races.

    It's all about 1ity. The closer to one is always better and less hatred.

  • Austin R 20+

    • 0
    May 12 2011: When did the world decide sexism isn't as bad as racism? It may be some people's opinion, but not everyone's.
    • thumb

      Debra Smith 200+

      • +1
      May 12 2011: I think we are assuming that by national actions. Austin. The world put sanctions and boycotts on South Africa but nations like Saudi Arabia where women are nt even people suffer absolutely no consequences for their stance.

  • Samantha Morlan

    • 0
    May 12 2011: I want to add that this topic is also barely ever discussed. Are people afraid of it?
Showing all 11 comments