It's the 21st century. As women, we can vote, go to work and run the world. We've made big steps and that's great. But what about small steps? Getting jeered at by male co-workers, being inappropriately groped on public transport or simply seeing your boyfriend being handed the bill every time you go out for dinner; these are all incidents the modern day woman still has to endure.
Making us aware of this is Laura Bates' internet sensation The Everyday Sexism Project. On her site, Bates describes the ethos of the project: “It seems to be increasingly difficult to talk about sexism, equality and women’s rights in a modern society that perceives itself to have achieved gender equality. If you have experienced sexism, just everyday, small, so-used-to-it-you-almost-just-accept-it sexism, please share your story so we can prove how widespread the problem really is. And nobody will be able to say we can’t talk about it anymore.”
The site now has over 25,000 entries from women all over the world, ranging from extreme sexual abuse stories to recounts of humorous sexist remarks. The Everyday Sexism Project also features stories from men frustrated by the way their own gender views the opposite sex. “This time last year, I had an idea. Today, 25,000 women's voices have turned it into so much more,” Bates says of the surprisingly large response to her site. With a potential book in the pipeline and the project receiving new reports every day, it seems we have a worldwide movement on our hands.
Share your story by visiting everydaysexism.com or tweeting @EverydaySexism today.
Text by Beccy Hill