9 Double Standards Women Often Face

Double standards are the eternal reason for human suffering. For example, studies have proven that because of gender inequality in the financial market, men have more advantages over women. Time goes by, but it seems like prejudices stay stuck in many people’s heads.

We at Bright Side believe that one day, our society will outgrow stale stereotypes and people will become kinder. We hope that our honest illustrations will help you reconsider some things.

1.

There are double standards in society when it comes to makeup. When people see a woman who wears makeup, they may perceive her as fake and even “cheap,” but if a woman doesn’t apply any makeup at all, she may be considered a wallflower who doesn’t want to attract men’s attention.

2.

Women are still being told that their main duty is taking care of the family. But even housewives suffer from people who like to say spiteful things about them and judge, let alone women who put their careers first.

3.

For some reason, it might be hard for some people to imagine that a fan of classical literature may not be a boring, timid person, but rather, the funniest woman at the company. And conversely, a hard-core party girl may not be a dumb bimbo, but rather, a straight-A student and the pride and joy of a prestigious university!

4.

Today, so many people are willing to give unsolicited advice that everyone is at risk of being attacked. There will be no mercy — a woman who loves cooking will be advised to go to the beauty salon as soon as possible, while a woman who doesn’t have time to spend in the kitchen will be blamed for feeding her family with ready-made food.

5.

Beauty ideals are rapidly changing, and society tries to impose them on all people who are at least a little bit different. A toned body, light eyes, and blonde hair — people may think that this girl is attractive no matter what she’s doing. But a girl who doesn’t fit into society’s beauty standards may be judged for doing the same things.

6.

The appearance of a person often plays a key role in our attitude toward them. So a cute girl who has numerous cats at home may be seen as an ideal of kindness and sympathy for animals. But an older woman who takes care of these fluffy creatures may be strongly advised by society to get a husband instead of cats.

7.

A curvy woman who decides to wear an outfit with a low-cut neckline may be seen as an example by many because wearing what you want without the fear of being judged is a sign of bravery. But the natural process of breastfeeding is still a taboo in society.

8.

Who has ever faced the dilemma of whether to finally buy an elegant dress or save some money for a vacation? No matter what you decide, it’s impossible to avoid public disapproval. A woman who would decide to buy an expensive outfit to please herself is likely to be labeled as a spender. And a woman who would save some money to go on a beach vacation may be called a cheapskate.

9.

Kindergarten teachers are ready to help families who can’t take care of their children full-time because of their employment. And sometimes, parents have to fully take responsibility for their child’s education. But “experts” in psychology will find something terribly wrong with each of these situations. In the first case, they might say that the mother just doesn’t want to take care of the child, and in the latter — that she doesn’t care about her child’s future.

What double standards have you faced? Tell us down below.