Men Share Double Standards That Women Don’t Necessarily Notice

This article was originally published on Techytwist.com

Our society is full of stereotypes, assumptions, and double standards that many take for granted without even realizing it. It’s always important to question our assumptions and the ways of the world, however, because that’s how change happens. One Reddit thread recently prompted people to examine their assumptions about the world we live in by asking a simple question, “What’s a double standard men experience that women don’t?” Thousands of people responded with their own personal experiences and opinions, and it led to some great discussions! Men and women all over the world shared lighthearted and serious stories, and we’ve rounded up some of the top responses.

#1: Gym Rats

When it comes to working out and going to the gym, we all have our insecurities, men and women alike. Men can be just as insecure about their bodies as women, and going to the gym, where people work out in tight clothes, can be a stressful experience for some. That’s why this person prefers to wear baggy, oversized clothes when he goes to the gym- to avoid any unwanted attention and stares.

He posted this story about a woman he knows from high school who worked out in the same gym as him. One time, she took to social media to complain about getting unwanted looks (not catcalling or harassment, just looks) from men at the gym. This person suggested that if she wears something a little less revealing, she won’t attract as much attention. Can you imagine the horrified? responses he got?

#2: That Angers Me

As this person points out, shouting or being physically violent is not good in either case, no matter if you’re a man or a woman. But he is right- if a man raises his voice or exhibits any kind of violence towards women he could very easily get arrested. If a woman shouts at her boyfriend or even hits him, chances are she can get away with it.

We all get angry from time to time and we all raise our voices when we’re upset- sometimes, you just can’t help it. But if a neighbor hears yelling from the next-door apartment, chances are they would think the man is the one yelling and the woman is the one in danger- and that’s not always the case. We should know better than that.

#3: Cuteness Overload

This young man realized that he and his friends hold a double standard when it comes to kids and the way women interact with them versus how men do. He was in a department store one time with a group of his friends, and he saw a little kid playing with a toy in one of the aisles. He casually mentioned how cute the little kid was to his friends and they immediately called him “creepy.”

He was pretty offended because he didn’t mean his comment to sound creepy at all. He just happened to see a little kid playing, thought it was cute, commented on it, and didn’t think anything else of it. Little kids are generally pretty adorable, so it’s not weird that this young man made that observation. Sounds like these friends need to be a bit more mature and realize that any adult can innocently think a little kid is cute.

#4: News Coverage Double Standards

Someone pointed out something that is very confusing and gross when it comes to news coverage of teacher misconduct stories. They’ve noticed that when scandalous news stories break about male teachers acting inappropriately with students, the media rightfully calls these men out as being gross predators who deserve the worst punishment imaginable. When it’s a female teacher, the coverage is completely different and it’s disturbing. 

Female teachers who act in the same inappropriate and perverted way as their creepy male counterparts are often depicted as “hot teachers” who “seduced” minors. There is a lot to unpack as to why this happens, but we’ll just leave it at the fact that misconduct by both male and female teachers is gross, messed up, and should be legally dealt with accordingly.