Sexism ranges from seemingly harmless and often unconscious comments to various forms of discrimination against women, leaving painful and long-lasting consequences.
Experts and representatives from non-governmental organizations stress that sexism is deeply rooted in Bosnian society, often masked as humor or tradition. Women experience it in both private and professional relationships, preventing true equity and equal opportunities.
“In all areas of life, women face obstacles that limit, condition, and label them in a negative manner,” said Aleksandra Petrić from the United Women Foundation.
Petrić argues that if we do not address sexism on a personal level, we are unlikely to confront its manifestations in our wider surroundings. This stems from growing up in a patriarchal society where women are taught to accept behaviors that diminish or completely exclude their presence, contributions, and rights. Girls are taught from a young age to be submissive and obedient, to keep their opinions to themselves, to hide, and to remain invisible. As Petrić explains, it begins with sexist language and jokes that gradually become normalized as part of everyday life. This normalization can lead to serious violations of women’s rights and violence in private and public domains. The objectification and dehumanization of women thus ultimately endangers lives.
Petrić says that the strict social division of roles for women and men, rooted in patriarchy, is accepted as part of tradition and is stronger than laws designed to protect equality. This dynamic shapes social norms about women and reinforces sexism.
“The explicit sexualization of women in the media and the widespread hate speech against women on social networks indicate that sexism exists and shapes our social reality,” Petrić adds.
Frequently heard comments about women’s appearances are so normalized that they often go unnoticed. When they are noticed, they’re rarely challenged. Examples include jokes about “dumb blondes” or “female drivers,” demeaning remarks about colleagues’ and friends’ being either over or underweight, divorced women being described as “back on the market,” and judgements about women who go out or dress in a certain manner “asking for” sexual harassment.
Everyday sexism, Petrić points out, leads to the normalization of violence against women and girls and a society in which women face discrimination at every turn. “As a society, we must work to change this, so that respect, appreciation, and zero tolerance for sexism become everyday values,” Petrić said.
Social Prejudices
Selma Hadžihalilović from the CURE Foundation asserts that sexism dominates decision-making processes, where gender equality is often misunderstood. She cites the exclusion of women from peace negotiations, power-sharing, financial distribution, and legislative decisions that affect everyone.
Gender equality, she explains, is not merely about the number of women employed in certain institutions but about embedded practices and mindsets that ensure inclusion and equal opportunities for all.
According to Hadžihalilović, sexism is present in all aspects of life. She highlights how women are often addressed in formal conversations as “Mrs.” or “Miss,” implying that marital status determines one’s identity or social status. The same is not true of men, who are addressed as “Mr.” regardless of their marital status.
“The assumption that a woman’s marital status determines her social position is completely unacceptable,” emphasized Hadžihalilović, adding that prejudices tied to women’s qualifications and problem-solving skills must also be rejected.
She says that numerous prejudices are deeply rooted in society and shape the way women’s work and contributions are valued. This is often reflected in the underestimation of women’s abilities, the dismissal of their successes, or the expectation that they devote themselves to maternal and domestic duties above all else. Such biases create limitations for women in education, politics, science, and business, reducing their influence and visibility in key social processes.
Hadžihalilović pointed out that when media platforms portray scantily clad women as role models while only quoting men in reports on serious issues, it sends a clear message.
“Portrayals of women who hold high-ranking public positions and are very successful are often reduced to answering questions like whether they’re married or whether their clothes are fashionable. Their competencies as innovative thinkers who respond to complex professional challenges are sidelined,” explains Hadžihalilović.
She pointed out that journalistic standards clearly stipulate how to report positively about women and avoid all forms of sexism.
“We cannot eliminate sexism and violence against others and those who are different, including violence against women, without all levels of society taking on their share of responsibility,” said Hadžihalilović. She added that gender equality and the total elimination of gender-based violence are collective societal imperatives.
Sexism in Culture and Psychology
Psychologist Vanja Sovilj explained that sexism often stems from unresolved psychological issues and feelings of inferiority.
“In our country, it is difficult and complicated to distinguish sexism from cultural and traditional norms. Here, gender roles are stereotypical, divisive, and leave a lot of room for invisible sexism, justified as tradition and culture,” said Sovilj.
While culture is important for both individual identity and communal belonging, Sovilj stressed the need for culture to evolve with the times, adding and that justifying sexism on cultural grounds is without merit.
According to Sovilj, experiencing sexist behavior can have different effects. For some, it can spark anger and motivate them to fight against the system to prove their worth. For others, it damages their self-esteem and leaves them with lasting symptoms of long-term psychological abuse.
“In my private psychotherapy practice, I often encounter women who are on the verge of depression and anxiety because they have difficulties with their standard gender roles, which I sometimes see as a type of sexism on the part of their family,” she noted.
Reflecting on discriminatory experiences
Sovilj explained that sexist behaviour often stems from the desire to feel superior to others. Those who strive for a sense of power or control may resort to sexism, and it can also be a reflection of someone’s own experiences of discrimination.
“If someone has suffered some kind of discrimination, there is a high probability that when he gets into certain situations, he will exhibit the same behavior,” Sovilj observed.
Sexism is thus not only a social problem but also a psychological one, with serious effects on mental health, especially for women who face discrimination and stereotyping. In order to create an equal society, all actors—individuals, the media, and institutions—must actively oppose sexism, break down prejudices, and promote a culture of respect, equality, and mutual understanding.
