Sexism and Racism - comparable?

56 replies

msrisotto · 07/06/2010 10:57

What the title says really. I have compared some facets of sexism to racism before (on a different forum) and have been shouted down with disgust as the two are not comparable and it is offensive to compare them at all. Do you agree?

I happened to be thinking about weddings and the giving away of the bride and comparing it to slavery of black people back in the day as it is akin to owning people. Was I morally wrong?

OP posts:

Original poster

msrisotto · 07/06/2010 11:48

I was told that comparing it to slavery was piss taking and mocking of the hideous suffering of slaves and finally, mocking the genuine oppression of women.

Sigh. This was a woman telling me this btw. Tough crowd!

OP posts:

ImSoNotTelling · 07/06/2010 11:28

Oh sorry didn't read the OP properly

Yes of course you are right

Women were property and were passed from teh ownership of the father to the husband

No different to slavery

Of course these days the handing over of ownership in the UK is symbolic. It's not symbolic everywhere though. In some places a man still owns his wife/wives. And children of course.

ImSoNotTelling · 07/06/2010 11:24

Yes of course they are

In some parts of the world females are killed simply for being female, or are still treated as chattels.

FranSanDisco · 07/06/2010 11:12

I feel at its worst sexism is comparable to racism but am amazed that many woman seem to accept they are second class to men due to their sex where they wouldn't accept discrimination on the grounds of their colour/religion.

Prolesworth · 07/06/2010 11:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

HerBeatitude · 07/06/2010 11:00

Of course they're comparable.

Both are about de-humanising one group because of something they can't change - their sex or colour.

I have never bought the liberal line that racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism are evil while sexism is a bit of a larf, really.

Unflip

1 2 3

Swipe left for the next trending thread