‘You Have Good Tech Skills For A Woman!’ No, You Cannot Give These Sexist “Compliments” To Women At The Workplace!

Sexist compliments at the workplace are sometimes masked and we don’t even realize it. Should it be pointed out? Is it a problem?

The exact term given to these sexist compliments is ‘benevolent sexism’. And yes, it is a problem. Here are some sexist ‘compliments’ one hears at the workplace.

What is benevolent sexism and what is the problem with it?

Benevolent sexism is a form of sexism, that comes across as warm and flattering but it is rooted in stereotypical ideas and beliefs about women and their gender roles. The main issue with benevolent sexism is that it is often ignored or unidentified. It is said that benevolent sexism can also change to hostile sexism, which is the more direct and open form of sexism.

“You have good tech skills for a woman!”

The first part of the comment sounds perfectly alright. It feels good to be appreciated for a skill. But the second part of the sentence (‘for a woman’) is where the problem lies.

The second part assumes that women in general aren’t technically inclined and it should be especially noticed and appreciated if they are. This section of the statement is on the basis of a gender bias of abilities.

The compliment should be based on the person’s skills, experience and talent and not aspects such as gender.

“Wow, you are not like the other feminist types!”

On one hand, while this comment does make one feel good and that they are a unique personality. But it takes a dig at ‘others’ and feminism itself!

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It suggests that those ‘others’ who identify as feminists, are a kind of their own. There is negative connation attached to being ‘the others’.

However, feminism is simply a movement for equality between sexes and there is nothing wrong in associating with it.

“Women are naturally more nurturing. They are best suited to organize the office birthdays and trips!”

Women can be caring and nurturing. They can also be excellent at organizing events. But those qualities and capabilities are not true of only women and also not all women.

By stating that it is a natural quality, it places women in a box. It almost implies that women must be nurturing and if not, it’s a problem.

“Oh, leave the presentation to the lady. She will make it pretty!”

The person who makes this statement is convinced of another person’s ability to make a presentation look pretty. While it is a good thing that they are sure that the woman can make the presentation look nice, their sureness (often) is on the basis that she’s a woman.

Not all women are good at design and not only women have to be good at it. Here the assumption is on the basis of the fact that the person is a woman and thereby a stereotypical idea of what she can do, rather than her individual talents and capabilities.

“Women are more creative and better suited to the ‘soft’ professions. Leave the boring finance to us guys.”

While the first part of comment (‘Women are creative’) sounds like a compliment, it also generalizes the qualities of women and thereby their abilities. Moreover, the person also bases their statement on the traditional notion that women cannot manage money.

However, suitability to a profession is based on aspects such as experience and qualifications of a person and does not have anything to do with gender.

Women do not necessarily have to be creative and they can certainly excel at finance careers as well!

Image source: Still from Filter Copy

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