Most of the sexism, like Vonnegut’s in these anecdotes, came from a cultural blind spot. Vonnegut was a product of his generation and culture, even as he strived against being so in many ways. He was not intentionally sexist or hurtful. Such blind spots, to phrase it most benignly, occur in every culture. You may harbor some yourself. Sexism, racism, ageism, nationalism. Homophobia. Political and regional prejudices. Your teachers, being human, will have such blind spots. They may not, as Vonnegut’s own mentor did not, recognize your value, remember you, or care about you. That doesn’t mean
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