Are you sexist?

We mentioned in a recent newsletter the advertising campaign which was put out by a Shropshire-based ag supplies firm that was so incredibly tone-deaf and embarrassing it was hard to believe (we’ve included an image in case you didn’t see this PR disaster!).

But it got me thinking.  Are we all maybe just a little bit sexist? Am I being sexist when I complain that ‘men don’t listen’ or that ‘it’s normal for men not to tidy up after themselves’ and is my husband being a little bit sexist when he puts his overalls in the washing basket and expects the washing fairy (yes, in our house she is female – only because she doesn’t think that male fairies can do domestic chores as well as she can!) to wash and return them?

But where does the joking stop, and the serious issues begin?  When I saw the dreaded ag supplies advert I was transported back to a farming dinner I attended three or four years ago. I was sitting next to someone (a man) who currently holds a very prominent role within the rural sector (no, of course, I’m not going to mention him by name – although part of me wonders why not) and I remember thinking at the time that, based on our conversation, he was the most sexist man I’d met in my 20 years of working within this sector.  This man has held many high profile roles and has won numerous awards and, whilst I’m sure he has done great things to deserve them, would he be as well thought of if people like me actually spoke up about what he had said to us?  I’m certainly not accusing this man of DOING anything inappropriate but I can assure you that I considered some of the things he SAID to be inappropriate.

Am I in the wrong for not calling him out on his behaviour at the time? Am I in the wrong for not speaking up to others?  What would happen if I did?  I could ruin my business – someone like him could easily do some reputational damage to me if they chose to. I could damage his reputation when, perhaps, he didn’t intend any offence by what he said. I could further enhance the stereotype that farming doesn’t always practice gender equality. But why should I keep quiet?

I’ve long pondered this question and can’t really articulate an answer.  What I do know however is that I’d rather DO something positive than complain about something negative. That’s why I’ve been involved in the Be Your Best Self programme for women in agriculture and that’s why I am not afraid to write newsletters like this one or produce podcasts that cover these essential issues. Let’s empower more women to have the confidence to call out bad behaviour and to make their opinions known in a way that stops this kind of behaviour and makes them feel as though they, and their views and expertise, really do matter.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and views on this, so drop me a reply if you can!

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