Definition and Meaning of ‘Sexism’
Sexism (noun) refers to unfair treatment, discrimination, or prejudice based on a person’s sex or gender, typically against women. It includes the belief that one sex, usually men, is superior to another, and can appear in attitudes, behaviors, policies, or practices that disadvantage people because of their gender.
Sexism can occur in workplaces, schools, politics, media, and everyday life.
Pronunciation of ‘Sexism’
- IPA: /ˈsɛkˌsɪz.əm/
- Phonetic Spelling: SEK-siz-uhm
Synonyms
gender discrimination, gender bias, gender prejudice, chauvinism, misogyny, gender inequality, male superiority, patriarchy
Related Terms
Sexist, Discrimination, Gender equality, Feminism, Gender stereotypes, Misogyny, Patriarchy, Bias, Prejudice, Inequality
Grammatical Formation
- Part of Speech: Noun (uncountable)
- Plural Form: None (uncountable)
- Related Noun: Sexist (a person or description of behavior)
- Related Adjective: Sexist
- Related Verb: None directly, but terms like discriminate, stereotype may be used in similar contexts
Easy Explanation
Sexism means treating people unfairly or thinking they are less important because they are male or female, especially against women. It includes both actions and beliefs, like not giving women equal opportunities, making rude jokes about a gender, or assuming someone is weak because of their gender.
Common Collocations and Idiomatic Usage
- Combat sexism
- Face sexism
- Sexism in the workplace
- Fight sexism
- Casual sexism
- Blatant sexism
- End sexism
- Systemic sexism
- Sexism exists
- Challenge sexism
Sample Sentences Using ‘Sexism’
- Many women still face sexism in the workplace.
- The new policy aims to combat sexism in schools.
- Casual sexism is often ignored but can cause real harm.
- The company was accused of sexism after promoting only male employees.
- Ending sexism requires both awareness and action.
- Some jokes may seem harmless but actually promote sexism.
- She spoke openly about her experiences with sexism in the tech industry.
Quick Reference Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Word | Sexism |
| Part of Speech | Noun (uncountable) |
| Pronunciation | /ˈsɛkˌsɪz.əm/ (SEK-siz-uhm) |
| Meaning | Unfair treatment or prejudice based on sex or gender |
| Synonyms | gender discrimination, gender bias, gender prejudice, chauvinism, misogyny, gender inequality, male superiority, patriarchy |
| Related Terms | Sexist, Discrimination, Gender equality, Misogyny, Feminism |
| Common Collocations | Combat sexism, face sexism, workplace sexism, fight sexism |