Society still praises men while deriding women for the very same actions.
Discover society’s double standards for men and women that we all wish would disappear.
Body Hair
Women with hairy legs and armpits frequently find themselves on the receiving end of scorn and judgmental faces, with society claiming it’s “unhygienic.”
If body hair is unhygienic, why is it okay for men to keep it? Or is it just unhygienic on women? That sounds like a seriously twisted double standard for men and women.
Going Grey
Women aren’t allowed to age gracefully. They must go to great lengths to maintain a youthful appearance for as long as possible, which includes hiding any signs of grey hair.
Some women shared how society reacted to their decision to stay grey. “I used to dye my hair obsessively to hide the grays and decided I was tired of doing it in my mid-30s. I did a hard stop immediately, and nearly EVERYONE I knew made a comment about it. Had a coworker ask if everything was okay at home,” she said.
Conversely, men get to be “silver foxes” and “distinguished” as they age.
Eating a Ton of Food
A woman who serves herself up a mountain of food at the party table gets side-eyed at best, while no one bats an eye if a man does the same thing.
“I can put some food down. I always get remarks about how I’m “going to get fat” or “it’s unhealthy to eat so much!” shared one user. “I’m 31 years old; I’ve learned my body pretty damn well. I trust myself over advice of some random,” they added.
Being Overweight
Others mentioned that overweight women receive far more criticism than overweight men.
“I’m a heckin chonker,” said a male Redditor, “but the only time anyone mentions my weight is people I know discussing workouts and diets with me or people being antagonistic to pick fights.”
Women receive harsher treatment. Everyone feels the need to comment on women’s bodies when they don’t fit the mold, from doctors to potential dates to random folks on the street. Those who don’t comment tend to ignore overweight women, pretending they don’t even exist.
Overweight men still get to be human in a massive double standard impacting millions of women.
Work Over Family
The cultural expectation of men as “providers” leads to a horrible double standard between men and women regarding working hours.
Fathers are allowed, even expected, to put in long hours at work, sacrificing time with the family to bring home the bacon. Mothers who work long hours are harshly criticized.
“Why are you letting someone else raise your kids?” society asks, even if the father is a stay-at-home dad.
The double standard hurts both men and women. Women get judged for not being available 24/7 for the kids, while men hear harsh comments about “not providing” or emasculating statements of “not being manly” if they choose to stay home.
Going Topless
Men can walk around topless whenever they please, while women who do so risk arrest for indecent exposure in certain places.
Although this double standard is mostly understandable, many women fought against indecency laws regarding breastfeeding. “Breastfeeding in public just became legal in all 50 of the States in 2018,” commented one user.
Despite the legality, some women still get judgmental looks if they dare feed their baby in public. Nobody cares if a man has an exposed nipple.
“Babysitting” Your Own Kids
When a mom watches her kids, it’s called parenting. She’s expected to know everything about what they eat, their schedules, how to handle meltdowns, and all the ins & outs of parenting.
When dad watches the kids, he’s “babysitting.” No one cares that he can’t figure out the difference between crackers and cookies, he gets a trophy for just being present, and nobody expects him to know how to handle a crying baby.
Moms could never get away with “babysitting” their kids.
Being Treated with Respect in Male-Dominated Fields
One user had a specific example that speaks to a broader societal problem women face in male-dominated careers.
The user shared that their mother was a welder, and men would constantly mess with her and assume she doesn’t know what she was doing, despite having gone through the same training and doing the job for a lot longer than most of them.
Many women face harassment and discrimination from their male coworkers for daring to choose a male-coded career.
On the flip side, men face discrimination in female dominated jobs, especially care work. But this hurts women too, as when men leave a field, the pay tends to drop.
Getting the Job in the First Place
Another shared they helped a boyfriend overcome deeply held misogynistic beliefs he didn’t even know he had when he shared that he didn’t want to hire the most qualified candidate because “Well, she’s a woman. She won’t be able to do the job.”
Ultimately, he ultimately hired the woman, who turned out to be his best apprentice.
Bragging About Your Conquests
Women would never get away with the same level of arrogant pride men enjoy when discussing their sex lives. Some guys relish in the “hero” status they cultivate for their success with women, and while a few people scoff when they brag, everyone would harshly judge a woman for the same behavior.
Not Wanting Children
A woman who doesn’t want kids is a pariah. Women are expected to want kids. Marriage and motherhood should be the ultimate goal of any woman’s life, so women who go against the script often find themselves subject to ridicule and scorn.
Though men sometimes face the same questions, the “lifelong bachelor,” and men who dedicate their lives to their passions are granted far more leeway.
Society still believes that a woman’s only achievement is raising a family, while men are allowed to pursue other interests.
You Should Smile!
Men would be shocked at how often a woman hears a version of “you should smile more.”
“My husband was shocked when I told him how often a man tells me to smile when I’m just going about my business,” shared one user.
But no one tells men to smile. Men can frown, be lost in thoughts, or have pensive expressions. Women hear remarks from strangers about how pretty they’d be if they smiled and that they need to smile more as if they exist solely to please random strangers they run into while existing.
The harsh double standard allows men to exist as humans, while women must exist as decorations.
Girly Things Are Automatically Bad
The things women enjoy are somehow “lesser” than things men enjoy. It hurts men too, who face ridicule for enjoying “feminine” activities.
Men share the weirdest things they’ve been called “girly” for enjoying.
Everyone Should Ditch the Life Script
You don’t have to get married and have kids to be happy. The life script isn’t for everyone. Here’s why you should ditch it and do your own thing.
Source: Reddit