"If you're a woman you've probably heard these before"

Sexism is a prejudice or discrimination based on one’s gender. It mainly affects women and girls. For ages, women have been victims to sexist jokes and have grown up tolerating sexism. Women have always been sidelined when it comes giving ourselves priority over men. Women are subjected to sexism on a daily basis and more often than not, it goes unnoticed. There is no denying of the fact that both men and women are different and have different abilities. Here, the problem arises when men think that it is ok to tease or make jokes on the "weaknesses" that women have. “You’re not like other girls.” Every woman must have heard this comment at some point in her life. Many women might even take it as a compliment and fail to realize that it is a sexist comment. (This can be due to the internalized misogyny as well, but that's a topic for another day).These comments are more likely to come from your boyfriend or someone who is trying to hit on you. Women are stereotyped on being a certain way, and women are considered “cool” when men do not have to compromise on their “manliness”. This comment indirectly means to say that women are emotional, clingy and annoying because that is the stereotypical judgement that the society has towards women. Ladies, run far away from men who make such comments, and be aware that it is indeed a backhanded compliment.

For a girl, you’re really good at driving. Again, something every woman who knows driving has heard. There are many women in the world who are better drivers than men. But they are said to be bad drivers because women are considered weak. In reality, women are more careful drivers, but the stereotype is to assume that men have an upperhand when it comes to driving. If anyone gives you this "compliment", do NOT forget to call them out with a simple " what do mean by 'for a girl' ;) Every choice a woman makes, she is being judged. It's always like people get to have a say on the choices women make as if it's their right. Making independent choices is out of the context when it comes to women. Whether they pursue a career, get married, have children, or choose not to do these things, women are met with judgement and comments from everyone - family, friends, colleagues, and even strangers. Often as early as a child, girls are faced with comments like “you should look pretty before going out.” These comments ascertain that looking beautiful is the first priority of a female in the society and it becomes a quality of a girl child. Whereas these words are never experienced by a boy. It creates a fog in the minds of young girls that looking pretty is the foremost priority even though they might have other superior qualities. They come to the conclusion that every woman exists to cater to the needs of the male gaze. “Oh you like football? but...it's a boy's game.” As young girls you are expected to not to like or show interest in games that are considered to be masculine like football, cricket or wrestling as these are stereotyped as male interests. You are expected to sing or dance or show interest in stitching or cooking which are projected as feminine interests. As small girls you are already evaluated for your sexual appeal later on. “Don’t be too late getting back”, or "don’t go out alone”, are comments that give rise to an insecurity in the minds of the girls from a very young age whereas these comments are never made for a male child. If a boy cries, immediately you get to hear, "Don’t cry like a girl.’ Emphasizing in the young minds that girls are born to cry and they are weak. As a married woman , you are already taught your gender roles in a family. “Don’t go to work, you have to take care of your child.” or "Spend more time for your Family, who else is there to take care of them " As if it is the sole responsibility of a female to look after the children and household chores, while the husband never gets asked these. As an adult woman, you are not expected to develop your career and be the bread winner of the family. If you want to know whether a comment is sexist or not, all you have to do is reverse the gender, and if it sounds absurd, it probably is sexist. Imagine a lady saying " I will let my husband work even after getting married, I want him to live his life." Sounds crazy no? So why is it okay for a guy to say this about women? So, ladies remember: You Decide Your Own Worth, Be You And Do You.