Ashley Judd called out an act of “everyday sexism” at the airport, is now our hero

Unfortunately, most women have experienced what Ashley Judd calls “everyday sexism.” A little comment here, a light touch there. In a Facebook Live video, Judd told her fans about her most recent everyday sexist encounter — and how this time, she decided to speak up. Judd said,

"I was coming through security when a guy said, 'Hey sweetheart!', and I said, 'I'm not your sweetheart, I am your client.' So, I was already setting a boundary. And then when I was setting my things out he said, 'Hey, nice dress.' I didn't hear him saying anything about the attire of any of the other folks in the entire line."

Judd explained that the man working at security then touched her arm, again, something she hadn’t seen him do with any of the customers before her, and once again called her “sweetheart.” Judd was not having it (nor would we), and asked to speak to a manager.

"This is the kind of thing [...] which I categorize as everyday sexism," she explained in her live video. "And it is so easy to let it go and not to speak up, particularly when it is so easy for someone to push back and say 'Oh, I was just being polite.'"

You can see the full video here:

As women, we have been conditioned to think that little comments and light touches aren’t a “big deal,” and taught to second-guess ourselves when we strongly suspect that we’re being treated differently because of our gender. But in reality, it shouldn’t be okay for a man to touch us or give us unwanted “compliments.”

Judd’s actions set an example for women everywhere who encounter these subtle — but very real — acts of everyday sexism. It can be hard to raise our voices in these situations when so much of our conditioning has made us feel like we have to be “nice,” and “sweet,” but it is possible. Let’s raise our voices, tell people how we really feel, and help ourselves and other women gain the respect we deserve.