Stephanie Pedersen: Sexism still a problem

Are we lying to our daughters when we tell them they can do whatever they put their minds to?

Are we preparing them for the future when we tell them if they work hard, they'll get what they deserve?

Are we taking steps forward as a society or will we remain "stuck in our ways?"

I'm asking because I'm frustrated.

There have been a few stories in the past week that have left me shaking my head, wondering if I need to change what I'm telling my daughter.

Last week, Jessica Mendoza became the first woman to work as an analyst during an MLB postseason game. An Olympic gold medalist in softball, Mendoza, 34, was considered one of the best players in the game.

I knew the second I heard her voice there would be backlash. I saw it on my social media feeds. Popular Atlanta sports radio host Mike Bell's tweet referencing an "Anchorman" quote was maybe the worst.

"Yes tell us Tits McGhee when you're up there hitting the softball you see a lot of 95 mile an hour cutters?"

Bell, who was suspended by 92.9 The Game for his comments, later apologized. But he, at this point, has kept his job.

I'm not surprised people like him still exist. I just hope if he has daughters, they understand that just because they can carry children doesn't mean they aren't capable of understanding baseball.

It's like that for a lot of women in sports, with many voicing concerns in recent Sports Illustrated articles about the several derogatory remarks they receive daily through social media or in person.

I'd like to think some people often don't understand what they're saying is sexist.

A few days ago, rapper T.I. said he wouldn't vote for a woman to be president.

I'm not surprised someone from the music industry that often refers to women as "hoes" or "sluts" actually believes women are inferior. It's been ingrained that we're not strong enough or emotionally stable enough, I guess, according to his comments.

"Not to be sexist but, I can't vote for the leader of the free world to be a woman," he told DJ Whoo Kid in an interview. " It's kinda like, I just know that women make rash decisions emotionally -- they make very permanent, cemented decisions -- and then later, its kind of like it didn't happen, or they didn't mean for it to happen. And I sure would hate to just set off a nuke. "

Says the man who served time for a federal weapons charge.

While some believe feminism falls in line with a politically correct agenda, sexism holds us back from our potential. It feeds into girls' psyches that we're not good enough because we're constantly judged by our appearances and internal organs.

Maybe that's why a recent study says women have a harder time coping with failure. It means more to us to achieve our goals.

Probably because people like Mike Bell still think we belong in the kitchen.

Stephanie Pedersen, senior editor, spedersen@ledger-enquirer.com.

This story was originally published October 14, 2015 at 10:53 PM with the headline "Stephanie Pedersen: Sexism still a problem."