‘Yuh fi deh home a have baby…’

DEFINED as attitudes or behaviours based on traditional stereotypes of gender roles, sexism can also be used to discriminate or devalue an individual solely on the basis of their sex or gender.

The issue termed sexism, though typically experienced by women, also affects men because of the attitudes that foster many stereotypes based on sex.

According to Woman Inc, sexist behaviour includes taunting or whistling, stalking, pressuring for sex, verbal assault, name calling, mocking, ridiculing, criticising and accusing.

Below, All Woman shares experiences of men and women who experience sexism daily.

George, medical doctor:

A female colleague came to work very late one day. She came at 7:00 pm for a shift that starts at 4:00 pm. When she did it I told my other colleagues that I was taking last break so I could leave first. This meant that I would break at 11:00 pm while the others worked until midnight. The female colleague began cursing and said I should not be leaving work before her, and asked why she should be on the road later than me as she is a woman. We tried to explain to her that she came very late and as such she had no break time and should work until midnight, but our efforts were futile.

June, taxi operator:

On a daily basis when I pick up clients they all look surprised and shocked when they see a woman driving a taxi. Some will ask why I do it, to which my humble reply is, “It’s my bread”. Others will go as far as to say it’s a man’s job and ask if I can manage the road. When I used to operate a robot taxi it was even worse. They would repeatedly say I should be home looking after children and at home instead of hustling for customers for my taxi.

Roxine, bus driver:

Everyday I encounter male passengers who feel I should not be driving a bus just because I’m a woman, and many tell me I look too good for that job, or that I should be at a front desk answering calls or in an office filing documents.

Kareem, student:

For me it’s sexism on an hourly basis. Women will ask me to do something for them like fix a slipper strap that has pulled out and if I can’t do it they go, “You a man and you can’t fix it?” or, “Weh you mek fa?” Others will say I smile too much and men must not be so friendly, or if I’m in a line and don’t allow a woman to go before me, you hear how much I am not a real man.

Paula, construction worker:

Whenever I’m on a work site it’s the worst. Apart from demeaning comments with regard to my body and its parts, they will say it’s not a woman’s job to mix cement or even push a wheelbarrow. To make matters worse, at times they’ll bring pots and food to the site and prepare meals over a coal fire, and I’ll be removed from my regular duties and put to tend to the meal or wash up the plates by the pipe.

Horace, call centre agent:

Whenever it’s time for lunch I have a female co-worker who will always have a problem if a man goes to lunch before her. She’ll always say we’re both hungry and I should be a man and let her go first, but I usually smile and say, “I’ll be quick.”

Ann-marie, truck driver:

Everyday, whenever I drive out of the complex or into it, the guard will say, “Try find something else man, this work is too much for you. Yuh fi deh home a have baby and look after them.” When I’m walking the compound they’ll make open comments about my figure and comments about what they’d do to me in bed, and if I don’t respond they say it’s because my husband isn’t treating me good why I have an attitude.

Lloyd, IT specialist:

My department is all males and each day at work there is a disagreement, which oftentimes turns serious and has the potential of becoming physical. The worst part is whenever I’m the one in the altercation, I opt to walk away and end up being called a wuss or soft guy by women outside the department who may have heard about the incident. Because I wont hurl insults or fight back, they don’t see me as the alpha male or macho man.