Your Guide to Surviving Awkward Family Conversations about Sexism

Your Guide to Surviving Awkward Family Conversations about Sexism


With the holiday season ramping up, there’s a lot to look forward to! From parties to the New Year, this time of year is full of expectations. You’ve survived Thanksgiving, but you might not be past all the awkward family discussions yet to come. But don’t worry—we’ve got your back! Here’s your handy guide to responding to common misperceptions about gender and advocacy that might come up this season.


Your dad says, “We don’t even need Title IX anymore. Women get to play sports already. Plus, no one watches women’s sports anyway!”

First things first, let’s remind dear old dad that this summer’s Women’s World Cup final was the most-watched soccer game in U.S. history! Title IX, which has been credited with helping develop the Women’s National Team itself, plays a critical role in ensuring equity in school athletics. But it’s about so much more than that! The crucial law prevents discrimination in all areas of education, including admissions; recruitment; access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields; campus sexual harassment and assault; tenure and more.


Your cousin says, “The gender pay gap doesn’t exist. Women are paid less because they take lower-paying jobs and take time off. Duh!”

We wish the gender pay gap didn’t exist! But the reality is that the pay gap is all math, not myth. Altogether, women working full time, year round in the United States in 2014 were paid only 79 percent of what men were paid. But that’s not the whole story: Mothers and women of color make even less. According to AAUW’s research, the pay gap occurs in nearly every occupation, including both low– and high-paying jobs. And it can’t be explained away by women’s choices. Our 2012 report found that women face a pay gap even after accounting for (are you ready for this?) college major, occupation, economic sector, hours worked, months unemployed since graduation, GPA, type of undergraduate institution, institution selectivity, age, geographical region and marital status. Phew!

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http://msmagazine.com/blog/2015/12/22/your-guide-to-surviving-awkward-family-conversations-about-sexism/