Domestic and sexual violence
Domestic violence is physical, sexual, psychological or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and that forms a pattern of coercive and controlling behaviour.
Abusers choose to behave violently to get what they want and gain control. Their behaviour may originate from a sense of entitlement which is often supported by sexist, racist, homophobic and other discriminatory attitudes.
Rape
Research into the factors which motivate perpetrators of rape against women frequently reveals patterns of hatred of women and pleasure in inflicting physical trauma, rather than sexual interest. Feminists have argued that rape is not the result of pathological individuals, but rather of systems of male dominance and from cultural practices and beliefs that objectify and degrade women.
Pornography
Some feminists hold the view that pornography contributes to sexism, arguing that in pornographic performances, that conceived for male spectators, actresses are reduced to mere objects for sexual use and abuse by men. Other feminists argue that pornography contributes to violence against women by eroticizing scenes in which women are dominated, coerced, humiliated, or even sexually assaulted. Other view on pornography supports part of it arguing that some forms of it can be a medium of feminist expression and a means of women taking control of their sexuality.
Prostitution
Anti-prostitution feminists are strongly opposed to prostitution, as they see the practice as a form of violence against and exploitation of women, and a sign of male dominance over women.
Other feminists hold that prostitution and other forms of sex work can be valid choices for women and men who choose to engage in it. In this view, prostitution must be differentiated fro forced prostitution, and feminists should support sex worker activism against abuses by both the sex industry and the legal system.
Language
It is disputed whether certain language causes sexism, sexism causes certain language or that they are both caused by something else.
Occupational sexism
· Gender wage gap: women have historically earned less than men even for the same position, although that is currently illegal in many developed countries.
· Discrimination: Gender stereotypes are formed at an early age with men and women being identified with particular occupations. A typical female profession is nursery while some typical male professions are engineering or driver.
· Glass ceiling: is used to describe a perceived barrier to advancement towards leading positions in general employment and government.
Sexual expression
Accordingly to some feminists, the current state of commercial sexuality has created a “Raunch Culture” where there has been a commercialization of the sexual objectification of women and that, rather than being liberating it is a pornification of Western society that has reduced and equated the scope of feminine power to sexual power only. Also, a virgin/whore dichotomy has existed since long and entails unrealistic categories imposed on women by men. This dichotomy allows men to condemn women for their sexuality; it is a no-win situation and a double standard since that this does not apply to men.
Sexual objectification
Objectification is an attitude that regards a person as a commodity or as an object for use, with insufficient regard for a person’s personality.
Many feminists regard sexual objectification as objectionable and as playing an important role in gender inequality. Some social commentators, however, argue that some modern women objectify themselves as an expression of their empowerment over men, while others argue that increased sexual freedom for women, gay and bisexual men has led to an increase of the objectification of men. Such objectification, either for men or women, can lead to negative psychological effects like depression.
Mass media and advertising are accused of promoting the objectification of women to help promote goods and services.
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