What Is Meant by Sexual Double Standard (SDS)?
Sexual double standards (SDS) occur when the same sexual activity done by a male or female is evaluated differently. For example, men are expected to be dominant in sex, while women are found to be submissive and unreactive. These stereotypes create a harmful environment where men are applauded and women are teased for the same sexual behavior.
In heterosexual relationships, more negative comments come to women than men showing the same sexual behavior.
Why Is the Sexual Double Standard More Important?
Assessing the prevalence of SDS is important for understanding sexual health. SDS is closely related to the ability to enjoy sexuality freely. It is also associated with
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Sexual victimization.
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Sexual assaults.
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Victim blaming attitudes.
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High risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STD).
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Lower sexual satisfaction.
What Are the Various Situations to Be Considered Regarding Sexual Double Standards?
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SDS is the prevalence of different attitudes, viewpoints, and judgments between men and women about sex behavior, habits, and tendencies towards certain sexual acts.
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Women are usually not taught anything about sexual practices at a young age.
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SDS limits women's freedom; they are prohibited from doing everything men do. Society always puts different gender - different policies to follow.
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More likely, SDS has an impact on both social and economic aspects.
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In a society where a woman is considered a sexual minority, they will also experience the same sexual prejudice in the workplace.
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This type of difference between men and women in the workplace is difficult to accept. Women's work-life has become more difficult and can lead to decreased economic growth. Women were not given top positions in the workplace based on their eligibility and work experience. Women were forced to work under men. In workplaces, women were given lower wages than men, even for the same job. Other benefits like holidays, sick leaves, salary increments, and insurance should have been allocated properly to women.
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A woman might need more resource allocation and face workplace discrimination.
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The concept of sexual double standards is already present in an adolescent group of children.
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The SDS should focus more on young women of the age group 16 to 18 years, where they will freely present and express their thoughts on the topic.
What Are the Double Standards in Various Sexual Behavior and Opinions?
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Premarital Sexual Intercourse: Itis an important matter to consider. A double standard emerges because many people agree with it, approve of everything a man does, and strongly oppose it when a woman does the same.
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Early Sexual Intercourse: Another area where double standards exist because society has set different standards for men and women.
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Number of Sexual Partners: The third point to be discussed is the number of partners. Here also, men are given priority, and women are evaluated badly for having more than one sexual partner.
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Provision of Condoms: The fourth point to be addressed is the availability of condoms for women. Men have more access to a condom at their convenience, and many people believe it is a male matter. Many women believe that buying a condom from a shop is a disgrace or thinking how others will judge them.
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Sexual Consent/ Communication: Lack of communication and not asking for consent from a female partner can lead to sexual violence. The way of approaching a sexual act is also equally important. Sexual activities need consent from both people.
How Is the Data Collected?
These data were obtained from various studies conducted in various countries among various age groups, and surveys were conducted. In addition, various sexual behaviors were studied.
The behaviors evaluated in one such survey includes the following
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Having very early sexual relationships.
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Ending a relationship with a partner.
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Having sexual relationships with multiple partners
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Remaining a virgin for a relatively long time.
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Remaining a virgin until marriage.
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Having sex with people of the same sex.
How Is Experimental Research Carried Out?
Experimental research is being carried out to find partner preferences and their concepts and beliefs about sexual practices at various stages of relationships.
Studies are being conducted to find out both individual sexual double standards and societal sexual double standards. In individual double standards research, participants were asked questions or allowed to make a judgment for sexual activities from both male as well as female sides. On the other hand, the societal double standard experiments are mainly focused on a group of people who were allowed to mark their opinions and judgments on various sexual behaviors.
How Does Parental Background Influence a Sexual Relationship?
The influence of parents and certain religious practices were also discussed to bring out double standards in sexual practice.
Based on some religious beliefs, girls are expected to remain virgins until marriage, and a religious mother takes it as an important thing to be followed without fail. Being influenced by society, a woman has a set of rules to follow to get a good partner. But in the case of men, society is not setting more boundaries; they can set their own rules or limits to live life. This way, they are setting a double standard for men and women. Another important factor for the existence of sexual double standards is people always put social acceptance as an important factor and will set different standards for men and women.
Conclusion
The sexual double standard is difficult to eradicate. Two reasons are being proposed. First, the culture of a region will change very slowly, and it will take much time to adapt to new cultural behaviors. Second, many cultural practices tend to be reproduced by younger people. For example, in many communities, older adults will strictly do certain practices that they are forced to follow. And eventually, they will take those practices to the next generation.
