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Whether you believe it or not, no matter how progressive our societies have been and how much progress we have made toward battling discrimination and equality in the workplace, unfortunately, the progress is not enough, and the numbers are disheartening.

Studies and research have shown that about 42% of US women have faced discrimination in the workplace based on gender, and at least 35% of UK employees have faced some form of sexism in the last two years. Considering that we are talking about two countries that have taken early initiatives against the battle of gender-based discrimination and have implemented numerous policies against gender-based mobbing, bullying, and harassment, things are not looking good, right?

Adding to the equation that women in leadership positions are very few compared to their male peers, then it’s completely obvious that sexism and gender inequalities are still the norm.

That said, it’s pretty obvious that women, on top of obstacles in their career development, also have to face widespread sexism that actually confirms the “this is a man’s world” verse. And even though we need more women in the workforce, it’s essential that we learn how to address and handle sexist people in the business world until the world becomes a better place for all and all genders can collaborate in peace.

Common signs of sexism in the workplace

If you are not sure if you can identify whether you are facing sexist behavior at work, check out the following signs:

You are not paid the same as your peer male

So, you landed your dream job, all look awesome and you eventually realize that your male peer gets more money for doing the same thing as you. Been there, done that. This is a clear sign that you are working in sexist conditions, and your company hasn’t yet realized that payroll should be equal in the same job positions. If you address the problem, as I did when I realized that, and their reply is, “Yes, but you don’t have all the skills as your male colleague,” then -guess what- sexism alert! Compensation for a job position is calculated per the position, not according to gender and skills, considering that why, in the first place, do you give the job to someone who doesn’t have the qualifications and not to someone who actually has the skills? This is problematic from the beginning and says much about the company and the employer.

You are not assigned important projects

If you feel like you are not included in specific, high-profile, and noteworthy projects while your male colleagues are undertaking one exciting project after the other, then you are probably a victim of sexist behavior. If a company employs people who are not trusted to carry out the job, then the company’s administration doesn’t have any business sense, which is terrible for the future of the company and its employees, but it also shows subtle sexism that is not direct, yet it’s evident if you pay attention. Women often feel left out of critical decisions and discussions, which can also be a severe obstacle to their careers and self-esteem. I can’t count how many times I have had a seat at the table but didn’t say anything or was completely ignored when I expressed my opinion. And the most infuriating thing during that time was that my ideas were good, so good that my male peers took ownership of them without my permission.

You are overlooked during promotions

If you are career-driven, advancing your career is undoubtedly very important. Promotions are part of this career advancement and are considered a reward for the time and effort you put into your work. However, if you are very into your work, working overtime, sacrificing your personal time and the time you spend with your family and your loved ones for your work, waiting for the promotion that -shockingly- never comes while your male peers are inviting the whole office to celebrate their promotion, then this should ring a bell, the sexism bell. I mean, it’s great to celebrate our colleagues' achievements, but if you notice that in the company you are working, the percentage of male people that are promoted is higher than their female counterparts, then your employers should reconsider their gender discrimination policies and practices.

You are the receptor of sexist/harassing jokes and comments

If your boss or a colleague makes inappropriate comments about you, your appearance, or your gender-based skills, then you are definitely experiencing sexism. Also, physical contact without your permission is considered sexism. No, nobody can come that close to you if you don’t want it, and there are specific social distance guidelines that should be followed unless someone gives you permission to come closer. Unfortunately, this subject came into the spotlight during COVID-19, when social distancing was vital to stop the spread of the virus; it was then that we realized that we were not aware that our personal space was essential and that not many people were aware. I was lucky enough to be able to learn more and be more mindful of the importance of social distancing when I was a student in social studies, and this has always been helpful for me -to keep my distance from people I didn’t want close physical contact with- but also helped me be in good terms with others since I knew how not to violate their personal space. Also, there is no “calculator” for how severe this behavior is; something is not right when you feel uncomfortable with a joke, comment, or someone’s physical distance.

How to deal with a sexist person at work

Next time you have to deal with a sexist person, and you identify any of the above behaviors, patterns, or modus operandi, try the following tips that actually work and will probably give you a sense of power and self-confidence.

Pretend You Don’t Get it–and Make Them Explain

When you or a colleague are receptors of sexist behavior, the best way is to act as if you do not understand the meaning of the comment, joke, etc. For instance, if someone comments about women and driving, instead of getting offensive, which can escalate more -and not in your favor- then simply ask them to explain, “I don’t understand what you just pointed out about women and driving. Can you explain that, please?” So, this way, you put them in a weird position when they have to explain their inappropriate “joke” (or whatever), and then either they explain, which is embarrassing, or they just say, “it was just a joke,” so you can reply without changing your serious attitude, “Oh, I have never heard of such jokes before.” They will get it, believe me, and probably won’t be doing it again.

Be Straightforward

Sometimes, we avoid being straightforward and addressing the issue and the sexist behavior out of fear that people will say that we are overreacting and that “we are too sensitive.” Well, being offended by inappropriate behavior is not “being sensitive”; it is about not accepting such behaviors from adults who are supposed to know basic human manners. It is offensive if it makes you or another woman feel uncomfortable, and it is offensive to have put a lot of effort into your job and not get that promotion because someone decided not to give you a chance based on your gender. The best way to address all those behaviors is just to be direct and precise and support your point of view with concrete examples and arguments. You don’t care what they think of you; you care about making a point that everybody needs equal treatment and there are no genders when it comes to the workplace.

Report it

Sexist behaviors won’t stop, and gender inequalities will continue to exist if we don’t pay attention and just “take it” out of fear of losing our jobs, our manager’s favor, or not being invited to after-work drinks. In reality, how much do you want to hang out with people who find it funny to make jokes and stereotype based on someone’s gender, or how far do you think you will go by accepting discriminating behaviors and people getting things they don’t deserve just because they were born males? So, if you are surrounded by sexist people, superiors, or inferiors, don’t hesitate to report it to the people responsible and “make noise” when things are not right. In the short term, you may feel weird, but in the end you won’t regret it. On the plus side, you will feel more empowered and motivated to continue doing your best in your job position.