Let’s Talk Double Standards

According to Merriam Webster, double standards are: “a set of principles that applies differently and usually more rigorously to one group of people or circumstances than to another.” In other words, a double standard, for example, could be applying gender roles and stereotypes to an individual based on society’s expectations and ideologies. There are many different ways of experiencing double standards. Is it fair? No. Is it accurate and true? Of course not. These ideas and standards that society applies to others are simply based on opinions rather than logical truth. Being a womxn myself, I can strongly argue that womxn are mainly affected by society’s double standards. 

Relationships can have double standards which end up leaving the womxn feeling emotionally drained, pressured, or judged. For example, there are many men who will look down on a womxn because of a high body count and call them a “h*e” or a “sl*t” but if a guy has a high body count, they are considered “cool,” or a “smooth guy.” Womxn shouldn’t be bashed for how many people they sleep with, especially while guys are doing the same exact thing. Society likes to praise men for sleeping with as many girls as they want to and will congratulate them whereas when a womxn does it, their character is questioned and they are looked down upon. As Gen-Z, we should normalize not shaming womxn for their body count or who they have slept with. Their body means their rules. No one else’s. 

Outside of a relationship, there are double standards that can also occur within the family. In certain cases, parents will allow the boy in the family to date but forbid the girl to even talk to a guy. Trust me, I’ve been there and have seen other girls go through it too. In certain cultures, the womxn are also expected to clean and cook for the family while the men have no responsibility in the house. The sister does the chores and helps the mom cook while the brother plays games or sits and relaxes. 

Another example of double standards can be found in the workplace. Not only do womxn get paid less than men but they also experience stricter rules on dress code. For example, many womxn in offices are forced to wear dresses or skirts and will get in trouble if they do not comply with those rules. My boyfriend’s mother works at a law firm and she tells me about how she is obligated to dress up but the men don’t always dress up. For example, there have been incidents where men show up to work in either sweats or jeans and do not get told anything. But if a womxn is dressed up, she may be viewed as too provocative for work as well. It is as if some people are never satisfied with womxn and continue to judge them too harshly. 

Double standards are detrimental in the long-run and can affect a womxn’s mental health along with their reputation. To become better as a society, it is best that women are no longer held to different standards, especially when it comes to how a womxn is dressed or how many people she has slept with in the past. If men are not being judged, womxn should not either. 

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