Final answer:
The essay discusses the complicity of women in sexism due to societal pressures to adhere to norms of agreeability and non-confrontation. It examines how these pressures suppress women's voices against discrimination, thereby indirectly perpetuating sexism. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of recognizing these complexities in the context of societal norms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The thesis statement posited by McLaren, that women have been complicit in sexism, is a critical point of analysis in the discussion of gender equality and feminism. Societal expectations have historically pressured women to conform to norms of agreeability and non-confrontation, often hindering their capacity to voice objections against sexist treatment. It is within such a framework that women, adhering to the very norms that suppress them, can become inadvertent agents in perpetuating sexism.
In the first paragraph of the essay, one might explore how societal pressures and gender norms encourage women to conform rather than challenge sexist paradigms. These pressures could include cultural expectations that govern behavior, speech, and even career choices, making it difficult for some women to assert themselves against discriminatory practices.
The second paragraph may delve into the ways in which these norms manifest, such as the societal pressure for women to maintain agreeability and avoid confrontational stances, which inadvertently leads to silencing themselves when facing sexist attitudes or actions.
In the third paragraph, one should address the consequential silence of women in the face of sexism, which, despite being a survival mechanism within a patriarchal structure, also serves to uphold and perpetuate the very discrimination they endure.
The concluding sentence might reiterate the necessity of acknowledging the pressures and norms that dissuade women from speaking out against sexism, as well as the recognition of the unintentional role they may play in its perpetuation. This is not to place blame on women but to contextualize the complexity of the issue within societal structures that demand compliance and often punish dissent.