We know that sexism runs rampant in many industries—Hollywood, online content creation (like YouTube), hospitality, professional sports—the list goes on and on and on. But thanks to the recent #MeToo movement, where women were encouraged to speak out against harassment and sexual assault, media awareness of gender inequalities has recently skyrocketed. Stories of abuse at the hands of powerful men like Harvey Weinstein and Louis CK are filling our newsfeeds as women and men share their stories and express their support for victims of sexual assault.
In Hillary Clinton’s post-election book, What Happened?, she writes that, “Sexism is all the big and little ways that society draws a box around women and says, ‘You stay in there.'” Well, it’s time for women everywhere to bust out of that box. Sexism sucks—but what can we do about it? Shedding light on what goes on behind the scenes is an important first step, but how do we change the status quo and ensure that those in power don’t continue hurting others? Here are some ways a .SUCKS domain can help.
Use Humor to Your Advantage
As Carolyn Fortuna of CleanTechnica states, humor is a powerful weapon when you’re faced with online harassment and trolling. Humor can diffuse difficult situations, demonstrate your cleverness and wit, and show off your unbeatable “water off a duck’s back” outlook. Of course, not every situation will be laughable—but when appropriate, humor can be an effective way to undermine those who seek to undermine you. This could be as easy as snagging a cheeky-but-pointed domain like Manspreading.Sucks to rally against everyday choices that men make to show that their space, time and bodies are more valuable than women’s.
Create a Centralized Platform for Stories
Another way to fight back could be to use a domain like Misogyny.Sucks and build a blog of personal or researched stories of misogyny and sexism in workplaces from around the globe. Danny Bittman, an ex-UploadVR employee who quit after the allegations of “rampant” inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace, stresses that honesty—and standing up when you see injustice occurring in your daily life—is the only way forward. Staying silent is no longer a viable option. If you’re in a position where you can call out others for abusing their power, consider doing so to protect those who may not feel as comfortable or safe speaking out.
Find Power in Numbers
Networking with other professional women is another great way to build support systems, brainstorm initiatives and empower each other. Just take the rally that came out of the #MeToo campaign in Hollywood this past week, where hundreds of marchers took to the streets to stand up against sexual violence. As Chelsea Byers, who works for the Campaign to End the Statute of Limitations on Rape and Sexual Assault, stated: “Sexual violence is something we have seen happen in the workplace, which is really where this began. But sexual violence takes hold in many other ways throughout society, and when we connect these stories and bring them to the forefront, to the public space, we can really start to address the different intersecting issues and the solutions that we require.”
Attending events, becoming a spokesperson for your department or company and becoming a mentor are all ways that women can make a difference in their community or workplace. Turn a domain like SexismInTheMedia.Sucks into a networking site where women, trans individuals and allies everywhere can come together and talk about combatting the institutionalized sexism they encounter each day.
The Takeaway
In the current political climate, where Donald Trump, an admitted sexual abuser and predator, was elected President of the United States, it has become absolutely vital for women and their allies everywhere to take a stand. The Harvey Weinstein case and the many vocal accusations that followed have started a worldwide movement, and it’s our job to keep up this momentum. Whether you want to express solidarity at marches or in the comment section, a .SUCKS domain can help you to challenge widespread sexism and misogyny today.
Sick of people not facing consequences for their actions? A .SUCKS domain could be the boost your campaign needs to start making a difference today. Start the conversation you want to be having online, and tell the world what really sucks.
Photo Credits: Shutterstock / Ms Jane Campbell, Shutterstock / Jacob Lund, Shutterstock / Julie Hassett Sutton