Sexism still exists? REALLY?

Graduating from university was an unforgettable day. Then came the day where I was introduced to the workplace. Then came the day I was introduced to sexism.

It was not that I had never been exposed to gender roles and differences. On the contrary, my family consists of three sisters and two parents, and my parents have specific roles within the family. Both my parents are hard working individuals who ‘put bread on the table’, and are equally appreciated by family members, despite the fact that their roles within the household differ. Mom takes care of daily needs, groceries, homework, supervises the housekeepers and gives us long hours of undivided attention. Dad provides holidays, getaways, fancy dinners, Friday ice-cream and of course, spoiling his three daughters and wife rotten!

Having said that, I clearly understand that there are roles that are naturally assigned to genders due to biological builds, I know very few women who would like to be builders, firefighters or drive huge vans (not that they couldn’t). And I know very few men who would like to be nannies, nurses or even house-husbands!

Given that I have the same occupation and job title as most of my male workers, I was shocked when I was introduced to double standards at the workplace. I work for a worldwide company that employs from all around the world, Bahrain being the headquarter of the Middle east region. And what shocked me the most is that sexism still exists upon all nationalities.

I currently work in an IT department that consists of at least 14 men and one woman, me. That, by itself is a challenge, but when you have to live with daily sexist comments from (some, not all) male colleagues, then you know there is a real problem.

I have been harassed by various nationalities, European, Middle-Eastern and African. Starting with being called “stupid, like every other girl” or “secretary”, “house-wife”, “brainless” ending to being called some nastier names that a lady cannot repeat!

I am not bothered by such comments, as those are brainless, pre-conceived, improvable theories that say more about those who think it than it does about me. I have already proved myself to family, advisors, country and myself by traveling, succeeding, winning awards and excelling all that I do. However, it does make me wonder, do those men think of their mothers as stupid? Do they think of their wives as brainless, or daughters as objects?

What makes me wonder more is when did this happen? Am I naive or did the sexism era disappear only to come back as a bigger monster? How can we identify nations, areas, conditions or people in which sexism appear?

How can you make this narrow minded sexist understand that the female standing before him have achieved, is achieving and will achieve more than he had ever dreamed of simply by using the same brain he’s underestimating?