Customer Reviews

Subtle Sexism: Current Practice and Prospects for Change

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Wow! I say this fairly often in the course of my fem-focused sociological studies, but this book has really opened my eyes. Before I read Dr. Benokraitis' work on this subject, I had no idea that sexism was so pervasive and so destructive. For example, I used to believe that people were being sexist whenever they made reference to the fact that I am a woman. Now I realize they're being sexist if they ignore that I am a woman, too - this effectively doubles the amount of discrimination I, and all my sisters, endure every day.

I've been able to generate a lot more indignation ever since completing this textbook. Sometimes I think about the days when I would sigh loudly at the use of the pronoun "he" when it could easily be replaced by the much more gender-tolerant "he/she/ey/e". It's the funniest thing - I would recognize that blatant and offensive sexism, but I'd be completely ignorant to the sexism of the very idea of the phrase "he/she"; why not "she/he"?! Oh, I'm sorry, did I shake up your worldview there, Mr. Man?

As mentioned before, this book has vastly improved my quality of life. Ever since I began pointing out the subtle sexism in my day to day life, my so-called "friends" have stopped hanging out with me (especially the male ones - guess they just can't deal with a strong, independent woman?), leaving me with much more free time to read up on more ways I can be outraged. And there's a lot to be outraged about! Workplace interactions, school, co-ed bathrooms, non-co-ed bathrooms, and oh so much more. But I wouldn't want to give too much of the book away!

The monolith of feminism is greatly strengthened with this book at the foundation. Kudos, Nijole Benokraitis, for allowing me to abandon the shackles of the patriarchy, one screechy diatribe at a time.