DOUBLE STANDARD

Double standard is a cultural practice that accords less freedom and choice to one sex.

The term double standard is usually used to refer to different norms of sexual morality for women than for men. Men's sexual activity is viewed positively as natural, right and normal, whereas women are seen as diminished in status if they engage in free sexual relationships outside marriage.

This double standard of conduct was once severely oppressive to women (and still is in many non-western societies), but has reduced relevance in western societies today where pre-marital sexual activity is normative for both sexes.

Common double standard seen every day is where females are treated more leniently than males for the same acts.

Double standard is defined by World Book Dictionary as a standard applied more leniently to one group than to another. 

Double standards are seen when judicial processes are applied more strictly to some people more than others.

“People of double standards never experience happiness.” - Sam Veda

“We have a double standard, which is to say, a man can show how much he cares by being violent - see, he's jealous, he cares - a woman shows how much she cares by how much she's willing to be hurt; by how much she will take; how much she will endure;” - Andrea Dworkin

“In relation to a writer, most readers believe in the Double Standard: they may be unfaithful to him as often as they like, but he must never, never be unfaithful to them.” - W. H. Auden

“We're women; we have double standards to live up to” - Ally McBeal (Fictionnal character of the sitcom "Ally McBeal")

“Society's double behavioral standard for women and for men is, in fact, a more effective deterrent than economic discrimination because it is more insidious, less tangible. Economic disadvantages involve ascertainable amounts, but the very nature of societal value judgments makes them harder to define, their effects harder to relate.” - Anne Tucker

The classic double standard example is in the "studs vs. sluts" model, in which a man who has sex with many female partners is considered a "stud" or "player" (which are often considered compliments), while a woman who has sex with many male partners is considered a "slut" or "skank".

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