The only reason you ever have to get up in arms is of consequences stemming directly from the sexism. Then there's an actual problem.
> but not everyone has the same fortitude.
That's too bad. Sink or swim. Everyone is much too hyper sensitive from growing up in such a protected and privileged culture.
People often forget that in the end, it's you vs them, crying about it on your blog and writing to newspapers and starting all these silly little groups and protests does not do shit.
Keep your head down, play the game, and when/if you come into a position of power, deal the cards you've been holding on to. That is how society works, and that is how everyone who ever came into a position of power has played the game, men and women alike. In fact my boss is a short fat black woman and I work in the investment sector.
If my mom and coworkers made it, so can you, and if you can't, then that is your problem and something you need to work actively to change, not society.
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The reality is people ARE going to have different opinions, good and bad. People WILL make sexist jokes. People will berate you for your gender, just because they can. People will do all sorts of shit. You have to accept that no matter what someones stance is, whether it's wrong in your mind, it is still their right.
It is entirely up to you how to choose to react to it.