Double Standards Research Paper

Its a well-known fact that there has always been and still is a double standard when it comes to men and women’s sexual expression. Men are judged less severely then woman are for the same behavior. Men are encouraged and praised for having multiple sexual partners while women are shamed, and name called. A double standard has been found to exist when researchers have examined male and female condom use, study participants typically rate the woman’s behavior more negatively and as more inappropriate when she provided the condom than when her male partner provided the condom (Penhollow, 2017). As you can see, these double standards are not only unfair but can lead to unsafe sexual encounters.
A college professor by the name of Susan Sprecher has been giving her students the same sexual behavior survey regarding casual and committed sex for the past 23 years. There were 7,777 students surveyed over the last two decades. The survey tells us that both men and women considered casual sex more acceptable for men. The conclusion of the study show that the double standard has not lessened in the past 23 years, but the younger generation doesn’t seem to contribute to it. The younger generation has more media outlets
that can challenge this double standard which brings me to my example below.
Hook up media culture is a new concept and media plays a big role in sexual expression in general.
Social media dating apps such as Tinder, Bumble, OkCupid, and Plenty of Fish exist for men and women to hook up. This may give women more freedom of sexual expression. Women have the opportunity to choose what men she wants to talk to and possibly hook up with based on pictures men post of themselves and based on a short description of themselves. Women seem to have the upper hand in these apps to approve or deny men at will. Men, especially from the younger generation, seem to be accepting of this concept and are aware that women must be willing to participate for the whole process to work. Do they respect these women? That is a question only they can
answer.
I also believe the double standard may be changing with the younger generation. The generation seems to be more open minded and accepting. Women’s issues seem to be an important topic and I think equality between men and women will continue to improve with this generation. Women are more empowered and confident and less intimated by men to take a stand and be themselves. Women are standing up for themselves and empowering other women to do the same. Education about safe sex practices and the sexuality of women will be a powerful tool to abolish the double standard also.
In conclusion, the double standard between men and women’s sexual expression does seem to still exist, but I believe that as time goes on and the new generation emerges there will continue to be less of a stigma around women’s sexual behaviors.