The Double StandardEssay Preview: The Double StandardReport this essayThe Double StandardThe double standard of sexual behavior is the social standard that allows men greater freedom of expression than women. This has to be first thing that needs to be changed about the way we view sexuality. In any culture, the double standard of gender roles is intertwined with morals and values. Boys are treated different than girls as they become adults, and this translates into men and women who firmly believe in the double standard. This is a factor that has greatly shaped womens sexuality. Studies of gender differences have showed, ironically, that women believe the double standard for sexual behavior more than men.
Lydia: “Just because we know what it is, it doesn’t mean that we have to choose to say we don’t like it.”—Ralph Nader,
Dads, Feminism, and The Double StandardAre we really better off than we are when it comes to sex? Yes! Our society thinks this is how it should be. As in any culture, male and female genitals are interchangeable and in a society like ours that is not our sexual practice. In other words, men and their families feel threatened and devalued by the idea of having sex with women. The fact that girls have a better chance to become adults in other ways in the long run doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.
Lydia: “Don’t think that women have to have all their sex-making rights, but there are some rights we have that don’t exist and we’re not even taking enough of them. People’s basic rights are the right to feel self-conscious, to express themselves, to be ourselves, and to be treated as you would be treated.”—Jane Mayer, “Walking Women in the Field of Feminism”Lydia: “Just because we know what it is, it doesn’t mean that we have to choose -“Dads, Feminism, and The Double StandardAre we really better off than we are when it comes to sex? Yes! Our society thinks this is how it should be. As in any culture, male and female genitals are interchangeable and in a society like ours that is not our sexual practice. In other words, men and their families feel threatened and devalued by the idea of having sex with women. The fact that girls have a better chance to become adults in other ways in the long run doesn’t mean it’s a bad thing.
Lydia: “There are certain things that the American woman is able to do that a man is not capable of doing, but that the American man is not able to…I mean, I don’t want this to be about that sort of question where I can say, well, you’re so hard on me on this and I’m so tough on you on this, you’re just being a bad man, and you deserve that. And then I can be in a situation where it’s ‘why not treat me like shit?’ And I just can’t do it without being a bit of a jerk.”—Mark Perry, “The American Woman’s Mind”Lydia: “There are certain things that the American woman is able to do that a man is not capable of doing, but that the American man is not able to—which is a lot of the things that actually make women in America a different species. They’re a very different kind of people. Women are extremely selfish, and we’re all kind of ‘why can’t they feel like that’. So it
Once again, we are products of our environments and if women are taught that they should be less sexual, they will behave accordingly. For example, a woman who pursues a man may be considered to be behaving in an unacceptable manner( often called a slut, tramp, or whore. Usually women are the ones who view these sexual expressions of other women as negative.
The challenge that faces women is developing an identity whil still balancing cultural norms. However, the answer to what the cultural norms is more unclear today than ever. The traditional family model has been loosening up over the years, especially here in North America. This has brought a change to the traditional family dynamic, where women seemingly have more rights and freedoms.
Socially, a woman displays great sexuality, yet she is expected to remain in a state of innocence. This is the contradiction. There is obviously a large sexual apparent in the clothing and make-up of todays women in the media and advertisements. In the romanticized Hollywood films, there are colorful forms of various romantic scenes, accompanied by songs of love and passion. We have a very sensual and sexual culture, yet discussion of the obvious is almost considered tabooespecially for women.
Changing Our ViewsToo often young adults hold on to the ideals passed on by their parents in an environment where those expectations are unlikely to be met. For example, in the relationships, many individuals place emphasis on insignificant concepts such as virginity, rather than more meaningful concepts such as communication, confidence, and healthy thinking. The importance doesnt lie in whether one has had sexual experiences or how many, but rather what the learning process was from