Is it illegal to make sexist comments in the uk?

I think there is a fine line there - sometimes men exploit the lack of laws and women exploit the presence of a law - as in my country - India - where acid attack, voyeurism stalking are offences - doesn't say anything about whistling. I think a balance has to be made and people need to be responsible.

Sexist comments - you mean remarks on women in general? I think that should not be such an offence as it is a remark on the race of women - it doesn't attack them physically does it? Of course they must be discouraged.

Whereas a sexual remark to a woman is an offence at least in the work place - people can get fired for that.

No matter how many laws you make around it - their lack will be abused by men and their abundance will be abused by women. Women will continue to be subjugated to abuse until people change their minds. A day will come when a poet will write something that will change people's perception forever. For that is the only tool by which people change - when great thinkers help change the collective mind of the race.

"A good poem helps to change the shape of the universe, helps to extend everyone's knowledge of himself and the world around him." ― Dylan Thomas

No it is not illegal in social situations, though there are often sanctions available in the workplace. Nor should it be because of the very different opinions that exist about what is or is not "sexist".

You may perhaps think that your view - whatever it is - is the only proper one and that everybody should be compelled to follow it. In fact, though, there are many views, and I know women who mourn the fact that they no longer get a compliment on a new hair-do or a smart outfit - particularly in work - because people are afraid of the types who will twist anything into some kind of non-pc wickedness.

There are real problems with sexual harassment and abuse, both in the workplace and elsewhere, and these need to be stamped out. Certainly in my (long) lifetime in work things have got hugely better; however there is a way to go yet. But the too-ardent pursuer of sexism can in fact give this important need a bad name and lose their own cause a lot of support.

And this is before we get on to the issues of free speech and the desirability of people being able to express themselves as they see fit.

At the end of the day you need to change how some people think. Is making rules about what they can say the best way of doing that? I'm not so sure.

It's not illegal but in some work places you will be sanctioned.