Comic- Zimdars

Media source: Comic

Concept source: Zimdars

We studied through the Zimdars article an examination of casual sexism. This comic sums it up nicely. Casual sexism is the off hand, throw away remarks from males that are a constant reminder that the female body is ‘less than’ in terms of social status as compared to male bodies. Men make casually sexist remarks as a way to ‘save’ their masculinity after being thought of as too sensitive. These remarks often go unpunished, or even encouraged. The men that make these men are enjoying the fraternity lifestyle of gentlemen bachelor (Zimdars). In the comic, the first man refers to his co-workers as ‘girls.’ The crudeness of this term gets overshadowed by the second characters stark response which is blatantly sexist. Using the term ‘girls’ to describe women who hold a job in the same office place insinuates that they aren't as smart, sophisticated, or mature as them.  Zimdars’ article focused television shows Two and a Half Men and Entourage, where casual sexism can be examined further.

Women are sexualized and criticized in their day to day life over their femininity, and men are continuously allowed to do so with little to no repercussions. Juvenile post-feminist masculinity encourages sexist behavior and reaffirms stereotypical gender roles, where this casual sexism is allowed (Zimdars). Casual sexist comments by ‘sensitive guys’ are a contradictory and strategic gender performance stemming from juvenile post feminist masculinity (Zimdars). Zimdars adds that hegemonic masculinity refers to the culturally idealized form of what it means to be a man, which typically takes the form of a hyper-masculinity that is strong, virile, and aggressive. Being casually sexist appeals to this hegemonic masculinity.

Horacek. Sheilas Casual Sexism. 2018. 2018, rma-consulting.com/driving-design-as-women/

   sheilas-feb-casual-sexism-resized-1/. Accessed 18 Nov. 2018.

Zimdars, Melissa. "Having it both ways: TwoandaHalfMen, Entourage, and Televising Post-Feminist

   Masculinity, Feminist Media Studies," Feminist Media Studies, vol. 18, no. 2, 4 Apr. 2017, pp.

   278-98.