Hipster sexism

Hipster sexism, also known as ironic sexism,^[1] is defined by Alissa Quart in New York magazine as "the objectification of women but in a manner that uses mockery, quotation marks, and paradox".^[2] Hipster sexism involves the use of irony in a satirical manner to subjugate women. It is a form of self-aware sexism that is deemed acceptable given that perpetrators are conscious of the inherent sexism and objectification of women in whatever action or statement is being carried out by them. It is rooted in the idea that sexism is an outdated and archaic institution which people do not engage in anymore, thereby making the demonstration of sexism seem satirical and ironic.

Quart mentions how hipster sexism or framing sexism in an ironic fashion "is a distancing gesture, a belief that simply by applying quotations, uncool, questionable, and even offensive material about women can be alchemically transformed".^[2] A tenet of hipster sexism is the casual use of derogatory words such as "bitch" and "slut", on the basis that such use is intended as ironic.^[1] Jessica Wakeman, a contributor to The Frisky, suggests that the label hipster sexism enables casual sexism as a means of being ironic, and thus being seen as an acceptable form of sexism.^[3]

Quart coined the term hipster sexism in 2012, partly as a comment on "hipster racism", a term which had been popularized earlier in that year.^[2] She differentiated it from "classic sexism", which she describes as being "un-ironic, explicit, violent [and] banal".^[2]

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