As one looks through society, one starts to see many cracks and loopholes where one set of standards does not apply the same way for men as it does to women, and vice versa. One of the main and most discussed double standards when it comes to gender is the fact that men are praised for being promiscuous, while women are put down and called names. This double standard goes way back in the societal memory. Evolutionary psychologists suggest that these gender differences have resulted from males’ and females’ different reproductive capacities. A woman can go have sex with a man, but she then will be limited to carrying his baby for those nine months. In the meantime, the man can go out and have sex with many women, and have all of …show more content…
In ancient Israel, the husband could issue a divorce, but the wife could not, and it was very much the same throughout much of England’s history (Magnus Hirshfeld Archive for Sexology). What is even stranger is that women fully enforce this sexual double standard. Over 99% of woman agree that women enjoy sex as much as men do, yet when asked to describe a woman who has had many sexual partners, over 59% percent of women used words that fell under the negatively connotative ‘Promiscuous’ category, using words like “slut,” “cheap,” “loose,” “whore,” “easy,” and “dirty.” Twelve percent of women even used words that would suggest that sexually liberal woman are psychologically damaged, using words like “insecure,” “lonely,” “desperate,” “needy,” and ‘unfulfilled.” Only 8% of women tagged a sexually liberal woman in the more positive category of “sexually focused,” the respondents feeling that “these women were uncommitted and focused on sex rather than the relationship” (Milhausen and Herold). In addition, “Women were more likely to discourage a female friend from dating a highly experienced male that a male friend from dating a highly experienced female” (Milhausen and Herold). This fact furthers the case for women’s involvement in maintaining the double standard. In a one study researchers found that “Women will endorse a sexual double standard in which women are judged more
Sexual double standard is when there is more sexual freedom for men than women in the world. Summary of example: Legal experts, meanwhile, are beginning to speak out about a double standard regarding how courts treat male versus female statutory rapists. Men fall into the usual stereotype of somehow believing a teenage male student probably enjoyed a sexual relationship with his adult teacher. Male teachers are always labeled as predators by the public. Female teachers are often mischaracterized as immature, confused or even vulnerable- even though they are just as predatory in their selection and grooming behavior to seduce that child. When it comes down to equality between the sexes it will never be even. The example is relevant to this topic
A very prevalent and obvious double standard between genders exists when speaking of how many sexual partners one has had. For women, having multiple partners may be considered promiscuous. They may even be looked down upon by friends and strangers. However, men with multiple partners are highly accepted, and even encouraged to some degree by our society. It is more acceptable for a man to have multiple partners than a woman. Another double standard that exists between the genders is the level of aggressiveness or assertiveness one shows, specifically in the workplace. Men who are assertive are seen as powerful and successful, while women are seen as bossy, irritable, cranky, or controlling. This makes female bosses even more of a rarity than male bosses. One last double standard that exists between the sexes is how self image and self esteem affects a person. Women and girls are much more aware and conscious of their bodies and how they look than men are. They are judged way more harshly by society for how they look and how they behave. Females should always behave like "ladies"—properly dressed, never foul mouthed or cursing, always clean, and always on their best behavior with polite manners. However, the male population is hardly ever scolded for cursing, being dirty, or not showing proper manners. It is unfair that women and girls have to live up to such expectations when men and boys don't give it a second thought. Although there are many more double standards that exist between men and women, these three are some of the most
Sexism has always been a major issue for women. It seems that today, everyone has to be careful of what they say and do so as to avoid offending someone. While everyone is busy worrying about extinguishing sexism towards women - which still is an issue that needs to be taken care of, who is concerned with sexism towards men? Sexism is just as much of an issue to men as it is to women.
For centuries now, women have been bombarded with an infinite amount of conflicting and overwhelming messages about what it means to be a woman and which behaviors are considered appropriate, especially regarding sexual behavior. Traditionally, women have always been defined in relation to men. Men are seen as strong, while woman are seen as weak. Men are superior and women are their subordinates. This is exemplified by the fact that “masculine” traits such as strong, non-emotional, and competitive are considered socially desirable traits, while “feminine” traits such as docile, emotional, and passive are not. We evidently live in a society that is not only sexist, but also undoubtedly racist. The white woman typically appears as virtuous and pure, while the woman of color typically appears as unclean and tainted. If the woman of color also happens to be poor, she appears as being even more worthless. Therefore, in the United States, femininity as a concept is inextricably linked with concepts of race and class. In the present paper, I discuss the effect that this is having on women and their sexuality, the events that have paved the traveled path towards gender equality, and current issues plaguing women today, such as the attack on our reproductive rights and our value as women.
The double standard discussed by Andersen and Witham (2011) is the sexual double standard. The sexual double standards get to be obvious when the sexual behaviors of women and men are exposed to different judgments that depend on a variety of societal desires of either gender. For instance, it is acceptable for men to have loads of sexual encounters before settling down for a long haul sexual relationship; in spite of that, the same is not considered for women. Any woman that takes part in a lot of sexual relationships is normally classified as “sluts” while men with the same behavior are thought to be
Here in the United States, progressive laws as well as equal rights movements have lead to far less extreme consequences for their actions, but that doesn’t mean that the epidemic of double standards against women doesn’t live strong in our society. As I grew up I began to realize the sacredness of a woman’s virginity in the eyes of my peers, and as I continued to grow, I watched the exact same peers frown upon the girls that had lost their virginity. Being towards the top of the social hierarchy at my school allowed me to talk to hundreds of boys and girls. I would sit and listen as boys would say “I don’t want her, she’s a (explicit)” or even go to as far as exploit the girls
The existence of a double standard for Women today is a main reason why women become extremely radical. Women that do not appreciate being stereotyped and discriminated against, protest in forms of rallying and with lawsuits against people or institutions of society. The areas of society that use or even enforce a double standard against women may consider women to be inferior to men. This idea of superiority is discrimination. Often the work place, sports, and within homes do we see this idea of a double standard for women.
Real Lives of Most Men." He says to a friend of his "This must be a
Men and Women's lives are controlled by the double standards all around them. Every gender is told how to feel and how not to feel, how to act and how not to act rather than just acting and feeling as they want to. The lives of human beings are plagued by these awful societal rules that are all meaningless. Despite the progress made in equality for men and women, double standards create inequality for both genders.
Originally the double standard meant that women should not have sex before or outside of their marriage. But it was ok for men to have sex period. More recently there is a new double standard with the belief that men and women are more of equals. Now women can have sex without marriage but they must be selective and conservative about it. The whole guys are the man if they sleep with numerous partners but women are sluts if they behave in the same way. Men are taught that sex is natural and normal where as women are taught that sex is something that is shameful and spoken
For many years society has embraced the idea that the difference between men and women were biologically determined. Thou through traditions, media, and peers we act accordingly to how others view us. Each individual has pressure placed upon them based on their gender. Our sex is determined by genetics while our gender is programmed by social customs. Some theories interpret that a women is tender and a loving mother while on the other hand men are aggressive hunters and are the dominant one of the family. People who support this theory seems to believe that men and women are happier when fulfilling the roles nature determined for them. Women are to be nurturing and men are to be providers by
The textbook identifies four approaches to gender development: biological, interpersonal, cultural, and critical. Define each theory. Then answer the following question: which of the theoretical approaches to gender do you find the most valid? Be sure to include at least two examples from your own experience as well as two scholarly sources to back up your claim.
In the 21st century, many people believe that we have overcome the obstacle of gender inequality and evolved into a society of fairness and righteousness. As many know, females can be just as proficient and qualified as males at any task. Though some efforts to off-set this gender imbalance is in place, it is still commonly acknowledged that many careers are stated to be a male job such as lawyers, and female jobs such as secretaries. Gender inequality is a visible fact in our society and in this essay, I hypothesize that gender inequality still exists as a result of factors such as post-secondary education differences of the two genders, role of females in families, female objectification, career choice differences of the two genders, and
Sexism is categorized by extreme cases, but when in reality, both female and male parties execute sexism everyday even in the simplest forms. Though women tend to receive more grieve when it comes to sexist acts or sexist slurs made by men, the level of sexist disputes has decreases drastically with time. The play “Trifles” displays the major difference is the mindset of the split sexes. The setting presents a time when women were belittled and not taken seriously. Susan Glaspell’s play is evidence on the progress our society has made concerning sexism, never less the ever-existing conflict still takes its toll in our everyday life.
It is only recently that sociology has begun to explore the topic of gender. Before this, inequalities within society were based primarily on factors such as social class and status. This paper will discuss gender itself: what makes us who we are and how we are represented. It will also explore discrimination towards women throughout history, focusing mainly on women and the right to vote, inequalities between males and females in the work place and how gender is represented in the media.