How sexist interactions (even with idiots) create imbalance,
a thread:
Two interview posts about PhD work went up this week.
Both topics question a key biblical figure.
The one by a woman got queries about how thorough she'd been & garnered 100 or so comments

The man's only 8.

Both got likes and good will.
The critical response to the woman's work was foolish. And many other stepped up to her defence.
She defended herself well.
She will have been told by us all the arguments were sexist, and stupid etc
And she believes this.
Where's the problem?

Man opens internet to check forum.
Sees a lovely thing and some like.
He's not arrogant. It's only a forum. But it's pleasent and uplifting anyway.
Lovely encouraging hit that people see his work and appreciate it.

Women opens internet and finds a battle in her name.

Anyone creative knows how the bad criticisms rattle when we are faced with the empty page.
(I'm now hypothesising from my experience not speaking for the actual woman).
That day will have had time taken from it to read the comments, build a defense, to be polite while doing so

Time will have been wasted deciding whether to interact at all.
"Is it worth it?"

Next time she writes she hears the voice saying "but has she really done it well enough" along side encouraging ones.
Next time he writes there is no worry from this.
It's a small thing but real

Next time she discusses how reception of her work has been, it's in her mind...she wonders if her job interview people saw it. Should she mention it first?
Will they think controversy is good or bad?

He simply feels welcomed. It was only a forum.but how nice they liked it.

Now,
It was only a forum on the internet Charlotte.
Yes, but a scholarly one.
And now multiply that by every time she said she was gonna do a PhD, or write a thing, or a life decision.
Add up that time
Add up defending your choices all the time verses getting pleasent responses

Over years maybe.
Women learn either to doubt or start defending their work before others ask questions.
It's extra work.
It's extra confidence they need.
It makes productivity slower cos they are second guessing the pernickity little criticisms rather than throwing ideas around

So many times women over think responses or making sure something is perfect cos it's learned behaviour from these 'minor interactions'.

The woman learnt from the beginning of a career that to be public is to be in a battle.
The man had a lovely moment & got on with his work.

And that is how daily sexism robs women of publications records and jobs.
Two key things are needed to be a productive academic...confidence and time.
Sexism and it's microagressions steal both.

It's never only "a stupid mansplainer"

Now this is even more compacted if you are a woman of colour.

I have far fewer stereotypes and restrictions to battle.