Definition: a set of principles that applies differently and usually more rigorously to one group of people or circumstances than to another; especially : a code of morals that applies more severe standards of sexual behavior to women than to men.

Are double standards ever a good thing? What double standards have you found yourself abiding by and why? What double standards really need to die but probably won't?

Let's Discuss...

a lot of bosses have double standards...

do as i say, not as i do

I love being an independent woman, but I like the man to make the first move.
The man has to say... "I love you" before me. The man also has should want to pay, even though I offer to pay.

I am not such a modern woman.

^ ^ parents use that one too.



I have a couple double standards.

Double Standard for women in the military versus men in the military. I'd rather not see women on the battlefield but have no problem with them in combat flying zones.


I think it's okay for men to walk around topless but not women.



[Edited 11/2/09 15:08pm]
[Edited 11/2/09 15:08pm]

prb said:

I find a lot of parents have them with their children as well

DesireeNevermind said:

oh God yes. I have tons of them.
But I'll refrain from going it to it. I'll sit back and chime in as convenient if the mood strikes me.

DesireeNevermind said:

I'd rather see a woman's tits in public that a man's titties.
Although I will admit to having been attracted to a naked man that happened to own a nice pair.

DesireeNevermind said:

No.

And that's really all there is to say.

paintedlady said:

man boobs or man muscle chest? like Arnold Swarzenstuff or Professor Klump?

Mach said:

but i get pulled up on it..every time...damn kid is too smart for his own good

DesireeNevermind said:

I got with a guy that had hairy MBs and he wanted me to pretend like I was nursing!

Double standard... get angry and take it personal when a female hair dresser says, "Girl let me fix you up because you look like hell"

Let a male hair dresser say the same thing and its OK... because he's a guy. WTH?

seen this happen a lot back in my stint in a salon.

DesireeNevermind said:

Mach said:

especially when it comes to cursing.

CarrieMpls said:

what about double standards when considering adults versus children?

adults can drive. children cannot.
adults can vote. children cannot.
adults can have handguns. children cannot.

although, many children either reap benefits or suffer consequences as a result of driving, voting, and handguns.

DesireeNevermind said:

a child is classed as an adult..over 12/14/16...when it comes to events
ie movies etc...that is wrong

DesireeNevermind said:

I don't see that as a double standard at all. There is a reason children are not allowed to enter into contracts, vote, etc.

When we're talking about different genders, sexuality, races, etc. it's a completely different thing.

CarrieMpls said:

what reasons?

prb said:

yet adults can go see movies that are supposedly geared for children. that whole "general admission" versus "rated R for 17 and older." I saw 13 year old kids (could have been 12) in the theater for the SAW VI movie. They could handle it better than me and my adult posse.

DesireeNevermind said:

Seriously?

It's to protect a child's safety and best interest.
They cannot vote until they reach an age where they are (ideally) educated enough to make an informed, intelligent decision.
They cannot enter into contracts because they should not yet be held responsible for making legal decisions.
They cannot consent to sex until they are mature enough to make such a decision.

Now, I agree that you are no more prepared on your 18th birthday to choose the leader of your country than you were the day before. But we have to make a practical cut-off somewhere. Society enforces these laws for the protection of all. Does that really not make sense to you?

- The one where men can sleep around and be cool but if a woman does it she's a whore

- I don't think thats going anywhere

CarrieMpls said:

I never said it didn't make sense but it is debatable.


You said yourself that one is no more prepared on their 18th birthday to make an educated vote for their nations' leader than they were the day before. Likewise, a child is no more safe at age 17 than they are at age 18. If a child cannot be held responsible for entering into a contract (which could be a contract of anything) then why do we charge them as adults when they commit a crime. If a child cannot be held responsible and does not possess enough intelligence to vote or sign a document then why do we not hold that same school of thought in criminal cases?


Another double standard...an 18 year old can vote for a world leader but they cannot have a beer. They can kill in the name of their country but can't have a margarita.


As far as consenting to sex, kids do that everyday in this country as is evidenced by teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases among youth. If two 17 year-olds engage in sex then neither of them are guilty of a crime but if one of them is 18 then all of a sudden, that one is guilty and the other is an innocent non-consenting child.

Apparently these double standards are seen as acceptable, necessary and therefore a good thing.

DesireeNevermind said:

I also said that we need a practical cut-off. Hence the age 18 was declared when you become an adult. Is that the "right" age? Maybe, maybe not, but it's hwhat we have defined and it serves it's purpose. (It also happens to be the age most children are graduated from school in this country.)

I don't believe the drinking age should be 21. So that follows that I don't believe in double standards. If you are legally an adult, you should legally be able to make any decision on what legal substances to ingest. That one is ridiculous.

Children consenting to sex with each other is a whole different thing. I agree there is a difference between a 17 year old and an 18 year old having sex than a 14 year old and a 25 year old. But again, it goes back to the practical application of the age of consent. Many states also have laws that look at the age difference between the people involved, so no one is prosecuting in the case of a 17 and 18 year old. And I think for the states that don't, there would be leniency exercised the vast majority of the time.

Mos of this has nothing to do with a double standard, though. We're only talking about at what age do we consider someone an adult.

CarrieMpls said:

Adult definitions aside...the discussion still applies because it speaks to one set of rules for one group and another set of rules for an "other" group. My personal belief on the matter is that no one is an adult until they've reached 21. I never bought into the whole "graduation" thing since I graduated highschool at 16 and although a high achiever, I was in no way mature enough to be emancipated and live on my own. However, I had friends, also 16, who were under-achievers in school but very mature and were living on their own and paying bills like any adult.

Oh and yes there has been an instance of a teenager being prosecuted for having sex with another teenager (17 and 16) and I think at time of trial the kids were 18 and 17. Remember this 2007 story? They gave him 10 years initially.




ATLANTA — A man sentenced to 10 years in prison for having consensual oral sex with a 15-year-old girl when he was 17 should have to serve out the widely criticized mandatory term, a prosecutor told a judge Wednesday. http://www.foxnews.com/st...23,00.html


Anyway..DOUBLE STANDARD DISCUSSION CONTINUES

Mstrustme said:

I hate that!!! Or if a man runs off and leaves his kids it's not that big of a deal...but if a woman runs off she's the worst mother of the century. They should both be equally hated.

The double standards for toys

Boy toys = adventurous toys that help stimulate the mind and reflexes.

Girl toys = anything that involves cooking and putting on makeup.

Ooooh, I think my biggest double standard is that I'm the world's worst procastinator and am usually the person who's late for everything, and yet I get irrationally grumpy and impatient if I have to wait on anyone or anything.

DesireeNevermind said:

...or changing and feeding a baby doll.

I don't believe in double standards

My kid breastfed and changed Spiderman. We raised him right.