The Everyday Sexism Project is a website and Twitter account that invites women from across the world to submit any experience of sexism or misogyny either via email or Twitter. It can be any experience, insignificant or outrageous. And it can be totally anonymous. The page today has close to 50,000 submissions since its launch in 2012 by feminist writer Laura Bates. “I set it up as I felt everyday sexism was a really invisible problem. So many women I knew were being told ‘not to complain’ and ‘have a sense of humour’,” says Laura.
The project’s popularity has inspired Laura to try for funding and turn it into an educational resource, which people can search by topic and location. She archives all entries and her ultimate dream is to turn it into a foundation.
Sample some of the entries: ‘My daughter asked if she could change into a boy so she could go into space.’ ‘Boys are proud of their sexual activity, but when girls talk about it they are branded sluts’. ‘Every year my grandfather sends money to me and my siblings. My brother gets twice as much as my sister and I.’
The website says ‘By sharing your story you’re showing the world that sexism does exist, it is faced by women everyday and it is a valid problem to discuss.’
Tweet @everydaysexism; or mail laura@everydaysexism.com