A rather depressing look through a few comments on our website/Facebook page this evening made me want to tweet about something so obvious, yet which prompts such anger in some.

Everyday sexism.

I wrote about this a few years ago (back when I dared have a column in the paper - which went well...).
Most people aren't sexist. They'd certainly say they aren't sexist.
Yet so many indulge in everyday sexism, well, every day.

An example:
The first comment I saw tonight (coincidentally, on a story about a debate over racist language), said, 'This country needs to grow a pair of balls'.

What does that mean?

Well, it means - and I think it's safe to say this is commonly accepted - that the country needs to show some backbone, to be brave, or to show some fortitude.

But they didn't say that.

'Grow some balls.'

Who has balls, in this context?

That's right - men.

So if you think about that phrase, the commenter is saying that on order to show resilience, bravery, or fortitude, you have to become male.

They could have used a different phrase, I hear you cry.

Quite right.

How about, 'the country needs to man up', or 'grow a pair', or 'show some balls'?

You see what I mean?

I hear you, at the back, telling me to stop being so 'PC' and that it's just a phrase.

That's right, it is just a phrase.

But imagine you're a child.

Imagine you're hearing these phrases day-in, day-out.

No one explains them to you. No one says they don't really mean anything...

So what meaning do you think that child absorbs?

And it doesn't end there.

What colours do boys like?

What games do girls like playing?

I bet you have answers...

Problem is, by the age of about three, so do most children.

How can blue mean male? It's a colour.

Why is a little girl who likes cars a 'tomboy'?

They're cars.

These things have consequences.

How many female mechanics do you know?

Or male beauticians?

The vast majority aren't sexist.

But the vast majority need to think about what they say.

Just say something different.

It'll help my - and your - children realise they can do, like, and be, anything they want.