The Sexual Double Standard
THE SEXUAL DOUBLE STANDARD 4
TheSexual Double Standard
TheSexual Double Standard
Prejudiceand discrimination against women have been in existence since timeimmemorial and is unlikely to stop anytime soon. Women are oftenmistreated merely because they are regarded as a weaker gendercompared to men. Many insults have been hurled at women making themdevelop self-hatred and become less active in the society. On theother hand, men have enjoyed proper treatment as they are lessprejudiced on the basis of their sex. The sexual double standard isin most cases perpetuated by men who believe women are second-classcitizens who don`t have inherent rights. Due to the level at whichsexual double standards have been manifested in the society, it hasbecome slightly more acceptable to many people, despite itsramifications.
Womenare in most cases expected to be submissive to their husbands andhonor them at all circumstances (Lundberg-Love, Nadal, & Paludi,2012). The fact that women are regarded as inferior in the society,men have ruled over them, rendering them look less important. Thereis no equality in most families due to the notion that man is thehead and women should be their servants. This belief has demoralizedwomen and made them believe that they are inferior as compared tomen. Due to their calm and passive nature, women give in easily tothe demands of men, thereby giving them a chance to take control overtheir life. Those women who speak up their mind are often regarded asaggressive and disrespectful towards men. Due to the failure of womento come to a realization that they have the same rights as men, ithas become virtually impossible to do away with the vice.
Inmost cases, women are required to maintain purity until marriage asno man would like to marry a woman who is not a virgin. To maintain ahealthier family setting, purity in some cultures is non-negotiable,and those women who attempt to practice sex at an early age areregarded as evil and sinful. Men usually prefer to marry women whohave maintained their integrity and respect as stated by Knox &Schacht (2013). Once a man notices that her wife had not maintainedpurity up to the time of marriage, such a person gets divorced withinnot time. Virginity is regarded as the woman`s best treasure, andthey should remain as such for the sake of their husbands. On theother hand, men engage in immoral sexual behaviors without beingquestioned or castigated as they believe it is within their right todo so.
Sexualdouble standards against women have persisted for a long time, and itis a common occurrence for them to be judged harshly for failure toconceive. Women without children are dehumanized and face bittervitriol from men who believe that they are selfish, as asserted byYancey (2013). Men consider it as a deliberate decision for them notto have children. When such slanderous assertions are expressedtoward women, they become offended and embarrassed since some of themcan`t give birth due to various underlying complications.
Inconclusion, it is the highest time that people becomes civilized andrespect one another without necessarily looking at the gender. Sexualdouble standards have brought about social and emotional issues tothe people affected. Men have to treat women in a way that denoteshonor so that they can co-exist peacefully. The world has changed,and such ancient social and cultural practices should no longer beallowed to take place under any circumstance.
References
Knox,D., & Schacht, C. (2013). Choicesin Relationships: An introduction to marriage and the family.Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Lundberg-Love,P. K., Nadal, K. L., & Paludi, M. A. (2012). Womenand mental disorders.Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger.
Yancey,G. A. (2013). DehumanizingChristians: Cultural competition in a multicultural world.New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.
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