Purity

I hate the double standards. I hate that society has certain expectations of me due to my gender. Why am I first told be remain innocent and conservative in my behavior and then through ads and popular culture told to allow my body to be viewed as a sexual object? Why I am looked down upon for the smallest risqué act while my male peers are praised for their many conquests? “When females have sex, they’re deemed dirtier than males. Suddenly, she’s not ‘whole’ anymore. She’s used goods,”(Yvonne Fulbright). This view that is broadly accepted seems completely unjust, yet so many women give into this view while still listening to their male friends brag about their sexual experiences with multiple women. Some women, even deem these partners “slutty” for their acts despite the fact that they themselves have participated in similar acts. The idea of how women are expected to act is so ingrained in society that many are programmed to automatically respond with this viewpoint.

It seems though, that society is constantly changing their views of how women are expected to behave. We are taught from an early age that we must remain virginal but, as we grow older, we are faced with imagery of naked women drinking our favorite soft drink and overly sexually active teenagers on TV shows. Yet in the real world, these kind of behaviors deem women “slutty”. “When it comes to being sexually active, females who aren’t married are offered the virgin-whore dichotomy. Forget that, in today’s society, neither label is considered sexy,” (Yvonnne Fulbright). The double points of view alone are enough to drive someone crazy. How can someone act in ways, which are on opposite ends of the spectrum?

The topic of gender stereotypes and double standards has always come up in my work whether or not I mean to have it embody the work or not. My work tends to reject the rules and stereotypes society has put on my gender through imagery that shows exaggerated scenarios.  I hope to continue having these undertones in my work even if it is not the direct focus.

 Fulbright, Yvonne. "FOXSexpert: Sexual Double Standards." Fox News. 10 Aug. 2009. Web. 30 Aug. 2010. <http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,538795,00.html>.

This article simplifies the different viewpoints society has involving sexuality and gender. It uses general examples of what is seen as acceptable for men and for women and shows how unequal these views are. It does not just show the inequality on the women’s end, but also in some cases on the male’s end.  While it is acceptable and even considered sexy for women to experiment with sexual orientation as well as dominance/submission in the bedroom, generally it is not widely accepted for men to participate in these kinds of acts. This article even touches base on Hollywood’s new message in movies that women should settle for less attractive and successful men, while men can easily attain these leading ladies. Though it does not use specific examples, the examples that are used are general enough that most readers can compare it to similar situation in their life.