We all know that today’s world has made so many strides to narrow the divide between gender norms and gender conformity. But as we all know, old traditions and habits are still happening to this day to keep men and women divided in sexuality, work, clothes, and social behaviors. There are so many ways that double standards keep men and women from being truly equal.
For example, most of us know that having a certain amount of sexual partners can label you in today’s society. But this becomes more prevalent between men and women. I know at least for my own experience, I haven’t really been judged for the number of sexual partners I’ve had.
Even being a gay man, I would have assumed that I would be judged more. As for my female peers, I’ve noticed that they’ve judged other females for the number of sexual partners they have. Which to me seems a little contradicting, even if they only had two sexual partners in their entire life. I feel as though this is a huge double standard. Because even in today’s society men seemed to get a pass on certain social taboos even though it seems like men are the ones who mostly create those standards.
I feel as though it shouldn’t matter how many sexual partners you have. We’re in a time and age now where sex before marriage is normal. Yes, you can believe what you believe because of your morals, religion, etc. But judging someone based on sexual partners can really affect how others view that person. Women can also be judged for the number of male friends they have as well. Because people assume that they’re having sex with their male friend.
Some other double standards that I have experienced and found through my research is with things such as having a messy/room or even being overweight. From what I’ve noticed during my life is that men are to get a pass on cleanliness and weight. For example, my suite in South Residence Hall is sometimes not the cleanest but I try to keep it as tidy as possible. But most of the time I just can’t find the time.
When my peers come into the suite or room. It seems to be normal that my room would be messy because I’m male. But sometimes some of my peers or other’s around campus and throughout my love judge women who have a slightly messy room’s even if their room isn’t even really dirty.
I feel like this is because in society women’s hygiene is held to a very high standard. So when those standards aren’t met, you as a female are labeled as dirty or unkempt. While with men it seems normal for them to stink or not be kept. This is a huge double standard I find a problem with.
Yes, hygiene is very important but if you’re going to hold women up to those standards men should be kept to those standards as well. People should also think about the fact that not everyone has access to the proper hygiene tools because of money, home situation, etc. this is sad but true. So when talking about someone’s hygiene especially female people should really be careful.
Some stats that I found about double standards were from a study that showed that from 1971 to 2005 18% of brides kept their own last names. Also in another study, found that 1,200 adults 70% of them said that they should be required to change their last names when they get married. Also while looking through some other studies I found out that a Children’s hospital polls on children’s health from the University of Michigan. Showed that 475 mothers with children said that they feel like they are put upon more shame for there parenting than the father on their male counterpart. I’ve also found in my research that even men have faced so many double standards like how men bisexuals aren’t really really excepted but female ones are.
So from my life experiences and from the research that I’ve found. I feel as though double standards really do have an effect on our society and how we view other people whether they’re male or female. Even our world today is much more progressive and we have been able to narrow the gap between these double standards, we have a long way to go before achieving gender equality plus closing the gap between gender double standards.
