Sexism is the belief, attitude, or behavior that one sex or gender is naturally superior to another, or that people should be treated differently and unfairly because of their sex or gender.
Most commonly, people use the term to describe discrimination against women, but sexism can affect men and people of any gender as well.
At its core, sexism is about unfair assumptions and unequal treatment.
Some common examples of sexism include:
Assuming women are less capable leaders or less intelligent in certain fields
Believing men should never show emotion or ask for help
Treating someone differently at work because of their gender
Making degrading jokes or comments about men or women
Expecting people to behave a certain way simply because they are male or female
Paying someone less or denying opportunities because of gender
Sexism can be obvious or subtle.
Obvious sexism might include openly saying women should not have certain jobs or that men should not be caregivers. Subtle sexism is often harder to notice because it can be disguised as tradition, humor, or “just the way things are.” For example, constantly interrupting women in meetings, assuming fathers are less involved parents, or expecting women to handle all emotional caregiving in a family can reflect sexist attitudes.
There are also different forms of sexism:
Individual sexism — attitudes or actions from one person toward another
Institutional sexism — unfair systems or policies in workplaces, schools, governments, or organizations
Internalized sexism — when people absorb sexist beliefs about their own gender and start believing limiting stereotypes themselves
Sexism has existed throughout much of history in many cultures. In many societies, men historically held more legal, political, and economic power, while women had fewer rights and opportunities. Over time, many movements worked to challenge those inequalities, including women’s rights movements and efforts for equal treatment under the law.
It is also important to understand that healthy masculinity and healthy femininity are not the same thing as sexism. People can appreciate differences between men and women without believing one is worth more than the other. Problems begin when differences are used to justify disrespect, control, exclusion, or unfair treatment.
Many people today try to become more aware of sexism because unfair assumptions can quietly affect relationships, workplaces, education, mental health, and opportunities in life. Awareness helps people treat others more fairly as individuals rather than stereotypes.
SEXISM HAS A LONG AND COMPLICATED HISTORY THAT GOES BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS. TO REALLY UNDERSTAND IT, IT HELPS TO LOOK AT WHERE IT CAME FROM, HOW IT DEVELOPED OVER TIME, AND HOW IT STILL AFFECTS PEOPLE TODAY
At its simplest level, sexism grew out of social systems where men and women were assigned extremely strict roles. In many ancient societies, physical strength, warfare, land ownership, and survival were closely tied together. Because men were often the primary fighters and hunters, many cultures gradually gave men more authority in leadership, property ownership, law, and religion. Over generations, those power structures became deeply rooted traditions.
That does not mean every ancient society was the same. Some cultures gave women much more influence and respect than others. But in many parts of the world, societies became what historians call “patriarchal,” meaning systems where men held most positions of authority and power.
In ancient civilizations like:
Ancient Greece
Ancient Rome
and many medieval kingdoms,
women often could not vote, own property independently, inherit equally, or participate fully in government. In some societies, marriages were arranged largely for economic or political reasons, and women were expected to focus almost entirely on domestic roles.
Over time, these ideas became normalized. People began treating gender roles not just as traditions but as “natural” or unquestionable truths. This is where sexism becomes more than simply different roles — it becomes the belief that one gender is naturally more capable, valuable, rational, or deserving of power than another.
At the same time, sexism also created harmful expectations for men. Men were often expected to:
never appear weak
suppress emotion
constantly prove toughness
serve as providers no matter the personal cost
fight in wars
avoid vulnerability
So sexism historically limited both women and men, although women usually faced more legal and economic restrictions.
During the 1700s and 1800s, especially during periods like:
The Enlightenment
and the Industrial Revolution,
people increasingly began questioning old social hierarchies and asking whether women should have the same rights and opportunities as men.
This eventually led to major women’s rights movements, including:
the fight for women’s education
property rights
voting rights
workplace protections
equal legal status
One major milestone was the women’s suffrage movement, which fought for women’s right to vote in countries like:
United States
United Kingdom
and many others.
In the 1900s, conversations about sexism expanded further. People began discussing:
workplace discrimination
unequal pay
stereotypes in media
expectations around masculinity and femininity
sexual harassment
representation in leadership
and broader social attitudes toward gender
Today, sexism can show up in obvious or subtle ways.
Obvious sexism may include:
openly insulting or degrading a gender
refusing opportunities based on gender
harassment or abuse
Subtle sexism is often more hidden. Examples include:
assuming women are naturally less logical
assuming men are naturally bad caregivers
dismissing emotional expression in men
believing certain careers “belong” to one gender
treating assertive women negatively while praising assertive men
One important distinction is the difference between sexism and misogyny.
Sexism is the broader system of unfair beliefs or treatment based on gender.
Misogyny specifically refers to hatred, contempt, or deep prejudice against women.
There is also a related term called misandry, which refers to hatred or prejudice against men.
A lot of modern discussions about sexism become heated because people sometimes talk past each other. Some focus mainly on historical disadvantages women faced, while others focus on pressures and struggles men face today. In reality, both men and women can experience unfair expectations, stereotypes, and harmful treatment, even though the forms may differ.
Healthy discussions about sexism usually focus on:
fairness
dignity
equal opportunity
mutual respect
and treating people as individuals rather than stereotypes
One thing many experts point out is that sexism often survives through culture and habit more than outright hatred. People sometimes repeat ideas they grew up hearing without fully examining them. That is why awareness and honest conversations matter.
Another important point is that not every disagreement about gender roles is automatically sexism. People can have different beliefs about family roles, relationships, or lifestyles without hating the opposite sex. The key issue is whether people are being treated unfairly, disrespected, controlled, or denied opportunity simply because of gender.
In everyday life, reducing sexism often starts with simple things:
listening to people as individuals
avoiding stereotypes
showing mutual respect
allowing both men and women emotional freedom
and judging people by character and ability rather than assumptions tied to gender
One of the most important things to understand about sexism is that it often works quietly in the background of everyday life. Many people think sexism only means extreme hatred or obvious discrimination, but in reality, it is often much more subtle and deeply woven into culture, habits, expectations, and social conditioning.
SUBTLE SIGNS OF SEXISM PEOPLE OFTEN MISS
Subtle sexism is sometimes called “everyday sexism” because it can happen so regularly that people stop noticing it.
Examples include:
Talking over women in meetings while taking men more seriously
Expecting men to always be emotionally tough and never vulnerable
Assuming women are naturally better caregivers or homemakers
Assuming men are naturally less nurturing parents
Praising boys for being assertive but criticizing girls for the same behavior
Treating emotional men as weak
Expecting women to always appear attractive or polished
Assuming certain jobs “fit” one gender better than another
Sometimes people do these things without malicious intent because they grew up around those attitudes. That does not necessarily make someone evil, but it can still create unfair pressure and limitations.
HOW SEXISM AFFECTS MENTAL HEALTH
Sexism can strongly affect mental and emotional well-being for both women and men.
Women may experience:
pressure to meet unrealistic beauty standards
fear of being dismissed or underestimated
pressure to balance career and family perfectly
harassment or objectification
feeling judged more harshly for mistakes
Men may experience:
pressure to suppress emotions
fear of appearing weak
pressure to constantly succeed financially
shame around asking for help
emotional isolation
A major issue many psychologists discuss today is how boys are often taught from a young age to disconnect from vulnerability. Phrases like:
“man up”
“boys don’t cry”
“be tough”
can sometimes teach boys to bottle emotions instead of processing them in healthy ways.
At the same time, girls may grow up feeling intense pressure surrounding appearance, social approval, or perfectionism.
Over time, these pressures can contribute to anxiety, depression, loneliness, burnout, low self-esteem, or unhealthy relationships.
SEXISM IN DATING AND RELATIONSHIPS
Sexism can create unhealthy relationship dynamics when people expect rigid gender roles instead of seeing each other as full human beings.
Examples include:
expecting men to always dominate or control
expecting women to be submissive or emotionally responsible for everyone
shaming men for sensitivity
objectifying women mainly for appearance
assuming one partner’s goals matter more
Healthy relationships usually involve:
mutual respect
communication
emotional honesty
shared responsibility
appreciation for each other’s individuality
Many people today are trying to move away from rigid stereotypes while still valuing healthy masculinity and femininity.
SEXISM IN MEDIA AND ADVERTISING
For decades, movies, television, music, and advertising often reinforced stereotypes.
Women were frequently portrayed as:
overly emotional
dependent
valued mostly for beauty
secondary characters
Men were often portrayed as:
emotionally closed off
hyper-aggressive
dominant
valuable only through success or strength
Modern media has become more diverse in some ways, but stereotypes still exist.
Social media has also intensified certain pressures. Constant comparison, unrealistic beauty standards, influencer culture, and online attention-seeking can increase insecurity and distorted expectations about gender and relationships.
HOW SEXISM AFFECTS CHILDREN GROWING UP
Children learn social expectations exceedingly early.
Boys may be encouraged toward:
toughness
competition
emotional restraint
Girls may be encouraged toward:
appearance
agreeableness
caretaking
Again, none of these qualities are automatically bad. Problems arise when children feel trapped by expectations or shamed for being different.
For example:
a sensitive boy may feel embarrassed for showing emotion
an assertive girl may be unfairly labeled “bossy”
children may avoid interests they actually enjoy because they fear judgment
Psychologists often say healthy development happens when children are allowed to develop their natural strengths and personalities without excessive pressure from stereotypes.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL ROOTS BEHIND SEXIST THINKING
Sexism often grows from a combination of:
fear
insecurity
tradition
desire for control
tribal thinking
learned behavior
social conditioning
Human beings naturally categorize things, and societies historically created simplified gender roles to organize communities. Over time, these categories sometimes became rigid and unfair.
Fear and insecurity can also fuel sexism. Some people may feel threatened by changing social roles or by people who challenge traditional expectations.
In some cases, sexism can even become part of identity or ego. A person may feel superior, validated, or powerful by looking down on another group.
This is one reason why wisdom traditions, philosophies, and many religions often warn against pride, domination, arrogance, and treating people unfairly.
WHY AWARENESS MATTERS
Many people are not intentionally sexist. They may simply repeat ideas, jokes, assumptions, or habits they absorbed growing up.
Awareness helps people stop and ask:
Is this assumption fair?
Am I treating this person like an individual?
Would I react differently if the genders were reversed?
Am I respecting the dignity of this person?
That does not mean society must erase all differences between men and women. Many people believe there are meaningful differences while also believing both sexes deserve equal dignity, opportunity, and respect.
THE HEALTHIEST APPROACH IS USUALLY BALANCE:
recognizing individuality
avoiding stereotypes
encouraging fairness
allowing emotional honesty
and treating people with mutual respect instead of contempt or superiority
RELIGION ITSELF IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY THE FOUNDATION OF SEXISM, EVEN THOUGH RELIGION HAS SOMETIMES BEEN USED TO JUSTIFY SEXIST ATTITUDES OR SYSTEMS THROUGHOUT HISTORY
The reality is more complicated.
Sexism has existed in religious societies, nonreligious societies, ancient tribal societies, modern secular societies, communist societies, capitalist societies, and many cultures all over the world. That tells us sexism is probably rooted more deeply in human behavior, power structures, fear, tradition, and social conditioning than in religion alone.
In fact, some extremely sexist people are not religious at all, just like you noticed. Some may even openly reject religion while still treating women or men unfairly, objectifying people, acting controlling, or holding very rigid beliefs about gender.
At the same time, religion has sometimes played two quite different roles throughout history:
sometimes reinforcing sexism
sometimes challenging it
For example, in certain historical periods, religious institutions reflected the patriarchal cultures around them. Some leaders or societies used religion to justify limiting women’s rights or enforcing strict gender hierarchies.
But on the other hand, many religious teachings also promoted ideas that were considered radically humane for their time, such as:
human dignity
moral equality before God
protecting widows and vulnerable people
condemning abuse
encouraging compassion and humility
valuing faithfulness over domination
A lot depends on:
how religion is interpreted
the culture surrounding it
the personality of the people involved
and whether people are seeking wisdom or control
One thing historians often point out is that human beings sometimes use almost any belief system — religious, political, ideological, or even scientific-sounding — to justify power, superiority, or control over others.
For example:
some sexist people use religion
some use nationalism
some use biology
some use online ideologies
some use “tradition”
some use social media culture
some simply imitate what they grew up around
So the deeper issue is often not religion itself, but human pride, insecurity, desire for control, tribal thinking, fear, or ego.
There are also religious people who strongly oppose sexism and believe their faith teaches equal worth and dignity for men and women. Likewise, there are nonreligious people who deeply believe in fairness and equality.
It is also important to separate:
sincere spirituality or faith
from
authoritarianism, manipulation, or abuse disguised as religion
Those are not always the same thing.
Many healthy religious communities encourage:
humility
service
self-control
compassion
respect
responsibility
and treating others with dignity
Whereas deeply sexist environments often revolve around:
domination
superiority
control
entitlement
contempt
or rigid power structures
Another thing worth noticing is that sexism can exist in quite different forms.
Some traditional environments may limit women unfairly.
But some modern environments may also mock masculinity, shame men emotionally, objectify women differently, or create new unhealthy pressures. So sexism is not limited to one ideology, religion, or worldview.
This observation actually reflects something many thoughtful people eventually realize:
human beings are capable of sexism with or without religion.
That is why many philosophers, psychologists, historians, and spiritual teachers focus less on labels and more on character traits like:
humility
wisdom
fairness
empathy
honesty
self-awareness
and respect for others
Those qualities tend to reduce sexism regardless of whether someone is religious or nonreligious.
SEXISM CHANGES FORM ACROSS GENERATIONS RATHER THAN BELONGING ONLY TO ONE GENERATION
Older generations often grew up with more traditional gender roles that today might be viewed as sexist. For example:
assumptions that women should mainly stay home
men should never show emotion
certain careers belonged only to men
household roles were rigidly divided
In many cases, those attitudes were simply considered “normal” at the time.
Younger generations, on the other hand, grew up in a world with:
social media
online outrage culture
influencer culture
constant comparison
identity politics
viral trends
and nonstop exposure to opinions
Because of that, sexism today can sometimes appear differently. Instead of always looking traditional, it may show up as:
hostility toward masculinity or femininity
online stereotypes about men or women
objectification through social media culture
extreme “us vs. them” thinking
cynical attitudes toward relationships
shallow judgment based on appearance, status, or gender
Social media especially can amplify extreme voices because outrage and conflict get attention. A small group of loud people online can make it seem like an entire generation believes something extreme when many ordinary people do not.
At the same time, many younger people are also more aware of issues involving:
equality
mental health
emotional expression
harassment
and unhealthy stereotypes
So there are positives and negatives.
It is also important not to fall into the trap of believing an entire generation is ignorant or sexist. Every generation has:
wise people
immature people
kind people
arrogant people
thoughtful people
and unhealthy people
Human nature does not completely change from one generation to another. The environment simply shapes how problems appear.
One thing many observers notice today is that younger generations are growing up under enormous digital influence. Algorithms often reward:
emotional reactions
tribal thinking
vanity
attention-seeking
oversimplified thinking
and conflict
That can make people more reactive and less thoughtful if they are not careful.
But there are also many younger people trying to become:
more emotionally intelligent
more self-aware
more respectful
more informed
and more balanced than what they see online
So it is probably less about “young versus old” and more about whether someone develops:
maturity
wisdom
humility
critical thinking
empathy
and real-world perspective
Those qualities tend to reduce sexist thinking no matter what generation someone belongs to.
TOP SIGNS A PERSON MAY BE SEXIST USUALLY INVOLVE PATTERNS OF DISRESPECT, UNFAIR ASSUMPTIONS, DOUBLE STANDARDS, OR CONTEMPT TOWARD PEOPLE BASED ON GENDER RATHER THAN TREATING THEM AS INDIVIDUALS
Sometimes sexism is obvious, but often it shows up in repeated attitudes and behaviors over time.
Some of the biggest warning signs include:
CONSTANT GENDER STEREOTYPING
They regularly make sweeping statements like:
“All women are too emotional.”
“Men are all pigs.”
“Women can’t lead.”
“Real men don’t cry.”
A sexist person often reduces people down to rigid stereotypes instead of seeing individuals with different personalities and abilities.
LOOKING DOWN ON ONE GENDER
One of the clearest signs is genuine contempt or superiority.
Examples:
constantly mocking men or women
acting like one gender is naturally less intelligent
believing one gender exists mainly to serve the other
speaking disrespectfully about an entire gender
Healthy people may criticize behaviors. Sexist people attack entire groups.
DOUBLE STANDARDS
They apply different rules depending on gender.
For example:
praising behavior in men but condemning the same behavior in women
expecting men to provide everything emotionally and financially while offering little in return
expecting women to tolerate behavior they would never accept themselves
Double standards are a major sign because sexism is often rooted in unequal expectations.
CONTROLLING ATTITUDES
Sexist people may try to control how others should behave based purely on gender roles.
Examples:
believing women should not have independence
believing men should never express vulnerability
pressuring people into “acceptable” gender behavior
shaming someone for not fitting stereotypes
This often comes from insecurity, ego, tradition, or desire for control.
DISMISSING PEOPLE AUTOMATICALLY
A sexist person may ignore or dismiss someone’s ideas simply because of gender.
Examples:
interrupting women constantly
assuming men are incompetent caregivers
refusing to take female authority seriously
assuming emotional concerns from men are weakness
The key issue is they prejudge people before actually listening.
OBJECTIFYING PEOPLE
Instead of seeing people as full human beings, they mainly focus on:
appearance
sexual value
status
usefulness
For example:
treating women mainly as objects for attention or beauty
treating men mainly as wallets, protectors, or status symbols
Objectification reduces human beings into roles or functions.
HOSTILITY TOWARD HEALTHY MASCULINITY OR FEMININITY
Some sexist people resent natural differences or constantly attack traits associated with the opposite gender.
Examples:
mocking men simply for being masculine
mocking women simply for being feminine
assuming traditional interests automatically make someone inferior
Balanced people can appreciate differences without hostility.
BELIEVING ONE GENDER HAS IT EASY AND THE OTHER HAS ALL THE PROBLEMS
Extreme thinking is often a sign.
Sexist people may:
deny struggles faced by the opposite gender
exaggerate only one side’s suffering
refuse empathy for experiences outside their own
Healthy people usually recognize that both men and women can face different pressures and difficulties.
FREQUENT CONTEMPT, BITTERNESS, OR RESENTMENT
Over time, deeply sexist people often develop a bitter tone toward the opposite sex.
This may show up as:
constant negative jokes
online ranting
cynical comments
anger toward relationships
general hostility
This bitterness is often fueled by unresolved pain, insecurity, bad experiences, ideology, or echo chambers.
THEY TREAT PEOPLE DIFFERENTLY BASED ON GENDER ALONE
This is probably the biggest sign overall.
A sexist person tends to prejudge, disrespect, limit, mock, control, or value people differently primarily because of gender instead of character.
IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE: PREFERENCE VS SEXISM
Not every difference in opinion or lifestyle is sexism.
For example:
preferring certain relationship roles
valuing masculinity or femininity
liking traditional lifestyles
or believing men and women may sometimes differ naturally
does not automatically equal sexism.
The issue becomes sexism when:
respect disappears
dignity disappears
unfairness appears
or people are treated as lesser human beings
MANY SEXIST PEOPLE DO NOT OPENLY ANNOUNCE IT. INSTEAD, IT SLOWLY BECOMES VISIBLE THROUGH:
repeated comments
patterns of disrespect
controlling behavior
contempt
manipulation
and inability to see people as individuals
Usually the healthiest people show:
fairness
humility
empathy
emotional maturity
willingness to listen
and respect for both men and women as human beings rather than stereotypes.
Sexism is less about one political side, religion, gender, or generation and more about how people choose to view and treat other human beings. When people stop seeing others as individuals and begin viewing them mainly through stereotypes, resentment, superiority, or rigid roles, unhealthy attitudes can develop. That is why awareness, wisdom, and emotional maturity matter so much.
One of the healthiest things a person can do is learn to judge people by their character instead of assumptions tied to gender. There are kind men and cruel men, wise women and foolish women, emotionally mature people, and emotionally immature people in every group. Life usually becomes much healthier when people move away from bitterness and division and toward fairness, respect, understanding, and accountability.
It is also important to remember that many sexist attitudes are learned gradually through culture, family influence, bad experiences, online environments, or social conditioning. That means people are capable of changing and growing if they are willing to honestly examine their own attitudes and behaviors. The most balanced people are usually the ones who can recognize differences between men and women while still respecting the dignity and humanity of both.
Healthy relationships, workplaces, friendships, and communities are built on mutual respect rather than domination, contempt, or stereotypes. The more people develop humility, empathy, self-awareness, and wisdom, the less likely they are to fall into destructive thinking that divides people instead of bringing out the best in them.
THERE ARE A LOT OF THOUGHTFUL RESOURCES OUT THERE THAT EXPLORE SEXISM, GENDER STEREOTYPES, HEALTHY MASCULINITY AND FEMININITY, PSYCHOLOGY, CULTURE, AND HOW THESE IDEAS AFFECT SOCIETY AND RELATIONSHIPS
Psychology and Gender Stereotypes
One of the best academic overviews on how gender stereotypes form and affect people is:
- Annual Review of Psychology – Gender Stereotypes — Explains how stereotypes influence behavior, expectations, and how people are treated.
Another excellent deeper academic resource on subtle and everyday sexism:
- Cambridge Handbook – Everyday Sexism — Covers hostile sexism, subtle sexism, social conditioning, and cultural gender expectations.
General Social Psychology and Human Behavior
- Social Psychology Network – Sexism and Gender Resources — A large collection of psychology resources about prejudice, stereotypes, discrimination, social influence, and gender-related topics.
Healthy Masculinity and Emotional Health
A lot of people today are trying to better understand the difference between healthy masculinity and harmful or emotionally unhealthy behavior patterns.
- Healthy Masculinity Resources – Seth Quam Consulting — Includes books, talks, documentaries, podcasts, and articles about emotional health, masculinity, empathy, and relationships.
- Learning Network – Healthy Masculinities — Discusses how young people can develop healthier ideas about masculinity and relationships.
- Health.com – Toxic Masculinity and Mental Health — A more easy-to-read article about emotional suppression, pressure on men, and mental well-being.
Men, Women, Gender, and Society
- XY Online – Men, Gender, and Feminism Resources — Huge collection of articles, organizations, research, and discussions on gender, masculinity, feminism, relationships, and social issues.
Interesting Community Discussions and Perspectives
Sometimes it also helps to read how ordinary people discuss these topics from different viewpoints.
These Reddit discussions show how nuanced and complicated conversations around sexism, masculinity, femininity, and gender roles can become:
- Reddit – Healthy Masculinity Discussion
- Reddit – Can Healthy Masculinity Exist?
- Reddit – What Is Sexism and Misogyny?
- Reddit – Healthy Femininity Discussion
One thing you will notice when researching all of this is that there are many perspectives, disagreements, and emotional reactions surrounding gender topics. Some people focus heavily on historical inequality, others focus on modern social pressures, and others try to take a more balanced psychological or human-centered approach.
Usually the most useful resources are the ones that encourage:
- critical thinking
- empathy
- emotional maturity
- balance
- self-awareness
- and respect for both men and women
rather than pushing hatred, bitterness, or “us vs. them” thinking.