Why do we have double standards of the sexes?

Question

Why is it that when a woman sleeps around she is called a w***e, s**t, homewrecker, but if a man sleeps around, he is know as a stud. For instance, if a woman is sleeping with a married man, she is the one who is stigmatized when the man is the one who is married. Why do we allow men to shift the blame on us? Why do some women refuse to believe that men can be at fault as well?

Answer 1

You're right, of course. Society's double standard for the sexes is unfair, however it does spring in part from certain biological adaptations. Men are capable of impregnating multiple women over a short period of time, whereas a woman can only get pregnant from one man approximately 1 year at a time. This works out pretty well as far as propagating the species goes, but not so much with emotions.

A man's biological instinct is to reproduce and spread his genes as far as he can as often as he can. A woman's biological instinct is to find a mate who will be a good provider and who will invest a significant amount of resources toward assisting in raising the children.

Now, with the addition of history and the emergence of patriarchal societies, which are more common, the effects of these biological instincts gets magnified or even warped. If you think about it, both men AND women are shunned if they act in a way that contradicts our biological instincts. Women are derided for having multiple mates just as men are derided for wanting a monogamous relationship or no relationship at all. Conversely, each s*x finds approval when they act according to these expectations. Men are suave conquistadors when they have multiple female partners, and women who find a good, single man who has the potential to be a great provider (i.e. wealth) are congratulated.

The truth is, there is a basic instinct underlying all these. It is the instinct to reproduce, and it is powerful. We can wrap it up in all kinds of disguises and pepper it with idealized prose, but ultimately, we just want to get it on. It's a natural and healthy thing. No one, regardless of his or her s*x, should be ridiculed for wanting it or having it, but neither should we be irresponsible with it. Frequent casual s*x with multiple partners carries its own dangers that become clear regardless of society's perceptions.

Answer 2

Maybe it depends on the community you live in.  The double standard you're talking about is not voiced around where I live.  We're very egalitarian and don't judge people differently according to gender.

Answer 3

men are whores too one is just as guilty as the orther it takes two to tango

Answer 4

Yea your right so go sleep around and show us men up. This has been asked for years but men could really care less if you called them a s**t or w***e and you guys do

Answer 5

Evolution - Millions of years of instinct has been grained into our brains, Women are supposed to be selective of a mate that will help raise children or make stronger children. Men have evolved to get as many women pregnant as they can.

A few hundred years of "equality" cannot change basic human instinct.

Answer 6

a question for the ages. there are those of us who dont see the clothed s*x organ as a "get out of jail free" card, or as a valid reason to hold you to a higher standard. there are a lot of men out there, because of their own insecurities and wishes to subjugate women, that will use these terms. i mean, someone who indiscriminately sleeps around, man or woman, is bound to be talked about and lose some respect in many social circles. bottom line: people who discriminate between men and women in this respect will do well to remember that hiv does not.

Answer 7

ehhh thats life, it sucks but thats just how it is. if u wanna sleep around, go for it, and if ppl talk badly of u tell them to F* off

Answer 8

to hold everybody to the same standard would be constrictive and not allow individual eccentricities