The Illusion of the Post-Feminist World

When I first joined GirlUp McMaster, I was so excited to work towards empowering and educating individuals about current women’s issues. To my surprise, when I relayed this sentiment to my dad, all he said was, “Why would you need a club like that in a country like this?” That’s when I realized that my dad, like many others, truly believed that women, specifically those in Western countries, no longer faced any oppression. He, like many others, truly believed in the illusion of a “post-feminist” world, a world in which the goal to achieve gender equality had already been met. While there may be no more overt discrimination like in the 1900s, sexism is still a very existent issue in women’s lives today in the Western society.

I want to start this conversation with sports participation. As of today, girls drop out of sports at twice the rate that boys do(1), and seriously, who can blame them? From a young age, we hear that women’s sports are ‘less popular’ and ‘less important’ than men’s sports. For young girls, this not only means a lack of role models, but it also conveys a sadly discouraging message about girls in sports. And let’s be honest, the social stigma does not help. Girls who play sports are often called “tomboys”, a label that implies that they are not like ‘actual’ girls. Thus, to be more “like a girl” and fit into society, they will quit playing. Over time, they lose their interest in sports all together. Once they grow up, they will believe in that same expectation, which only continues the cycle.

In terms of careers, this subtle sexism continues to exist through the predominant differences in aspirations, rewards, and feedback for women versus men. First off, girls are two times less likely to pursue certain future pathways such as STEM-based careers(2). Once entering the job market, there is still a wage gap between the genders. In Canada, on average, full-time working women earn $0.75 for every $1.00 that full-time working men earn, and this does not even take marginalized populations into consideration(3).

There are even different sets of vocabulary used to describe each gender. For example, let’s say that someone has a strong leadership role, and they often take charge of the room. If that someone is a man, they are praised for being “assertive”. If that someone is a woman, they are scorned for being “bossy”. As a man, they are “confident”. As a woman, they are “b*tchy”. Women are mocked for the same characteristics that men are admired for, creating double standards that prevent women from advancing in their career.

These sexist societal perceptions and expectations also determine a woman’s actions and future lifestyle. Women are still expected to be the primary home caregivers, especially in immigrant families. Women are still expected to have children, implying that a woman’s purpose is to become a mother. This not only pushes women into having children even if they do not want to, but it also suggests that women who do not (want to) have children are abnormal. Unfortunately, these stereotypes affect a woman’s career as many employers will refrain from hiring completely capable women for certain positions due to this outdated expectation. Thus, not only does subtle sexism dictate what it means to be a woman, but it also takes away a woman’s opportunity to choose their own life.

These, of course, are only a few examples of the way subtle sexism sneaks into our world today. It remains hidden and embedded into our daily lives, eventually resulting in a devastating shock for young girls when they grow up. As a child, many girls in America and Europe are told that they’re better off than the poor girls who still struggle for basic human rights such as education and freedom of choice. They are told that in this country, they are equal to any boy, and they can do anything; they can be anything; they can dream anything. Then, they grow up and step out into the real world, but it’s not like what they were promised. No, the real world is still unfair, still unequal, still full of sexist cracks and rifts. The worst part is that no one will even listen to these girls. Why? Because shouldn’t they just be happy that they aren’t like those who are still murdered just for being girls?

This, right here, is the problem of the illusion of a “post-feminist” world. It creates this cruel reality in which women still experience sexism, but now, they are forced to accept their fate because “come on, things are better off than before”. And of course, any feelings that are voiced will just be labelled off as complaints. This not only invalidates women’s experiences, but also amplifies the stigma against feminism. Thus, as women, we continue to secretly suffer in silence, restricted from reaching our full potential. Nonetheless, the truth is that despite the significant advancement in feminism since the 1900s, there is still much more progress to be made. And, no matter where you live, this fight to achieve true gender equality continues on to this day.

by Rijuta Gohil '23 (Blog Subcommittee Member)

References

1. Do You Know the Factors Influencing Girls' Participation in Sports? [Internet]. Women's Sports Foundation. Women's Sports Foundation; 2019 [cited 2021Apr27]. Available from: https://www.womenssportsfoundation.org/do-you-know-the-factors-influencing-girls-participation-in-sports/

2. Howard J. The Facts About Barriers Girls Face [Internet]. Canadian Women's Foundation. Canadian Women's Foundation; 2021 [cited 2021Apr27]. Available from: https://canadianwomen.org/the-facts/barriers-for-girls/

3. Howard J. The Facts about the Gender Pay Gap in Canada [Internet]. Canadian Women's Foundation. Canadian Women's Foundation; 2021 [cited 2021Apr27]. Available from: https://canadianwomen.org/the-facts/the-gender-pay-gap/