[UbuntuWomen] Check This : Defining sexism etc

[A. Mani]

Definitions should be functional.


What is 'sexism'?

>From any reasonable feminist perspective, the term sexism refers to
discrimination against women based on her sexual features in the
context of an unequal and discriminatory society.  The term can be
traced back to second wave feminist discourse .

In few other discourses, the term is used in a universal way, i.e.
discrimination against a person or a group of persons based on their
sexual features. Apparently most of these usages have been by
extremist groups.

So to hit the nail on the head always, we suggest that you do not use
"sexism against <non woman genders>". Instead speak of "sexual
discrimination against <person/person category>" if that corresponds
to your intended meaning.

This would mean that for speaking about sexual discrimination against
women and transwomen, "sexism" should be preferred. For all other
gender categories including transmen, "sexual discrimination" should
be used.


(The current Wikipedia entry on "sexism" is wrong.)

Do instances of misandry with sexual overtones amount to sexism?

Because of the above, it does not and should fall under "sexual discrimination".

______________________


References:

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-topics/#FemAnt
http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-topics

http://finallyfeminism101.wordpress.com/purpose/

http://www.shakesville.com/2010/01/feminism-101.html

http://skepchick.org/

http://racismschool.tumblr.com/post/16951059428/ally-the-basics
http://www.shakesville.com/2011/02/feminism-101-helpful-hints-for-dudes.html

http://feminist-armchair-regime.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/its-patriarchy-its-misogyny-but-its-not_26.html?showComment=1372328121610#c3008107122509438019


____________________________________________

What is the difference between gender and sexual discrimination?


Many people also use gender and sexual discrimination in an
interchangeable way, but that leads to overloading of the terms and
confusion.

Preferring one or more genders over others without regard to other
factors is gender discrimination. Examples of gender discriminatory
viewpoints are
 "Only men can manage a project with over 20,000 SLOC".
 "Managers for the grocery store or cops need to have masculine features".

Relative our scientific concept of sex, sexual discrimination is
discriminating against persons on the basis of particular sets of
sexual features when the context under consideration does not call for
consideration of any of those classes of features.  So it can go far
beyond "biological sex". An example of sexual discrimination is:
"Cops should not be having periods".


Can an employer who believes that 'genders exist on a continuum'
indulge in gender discrimination?

The belief that genders exist on a continuum predisposes the person
towards a tolerant position.
But the person may still be prejudiced against parts of the gender continuum.








Best

A. Mani



A. Mani
CU, ASL, AMS, CLC, CMS
http://www.logicamani.in