The double standard occurs when a person applies certain rules for a specific situation, and another otherwise do. When this behavior occurs, some individuals are given more freedom of action than others, which puts one group of people at an advantage over others.
Although this is a common practice in everyday life, it is supposed to be subject to condemnation, because before the law all individuals must be tried under the same criteria and in the same way.
Condemning an action by another and justifying the same action done by one is a reflection of the application of double standards: Source: pixabay.com
Double standards can occur at various levels: from everyday trifles such as judging someone for something that is also occasionally incurred, to tax issues, such as tax evasion or the hiring of illegal workers.
Just as values are instilled in the home at an early age, double standards can also manifest as a consequence of poor education. A child who is raised under biased criteria will tend to make similar judgments as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
Definition
Double standards can be defined as the partial application of rules without justification; that is, it is evidenced when one group of people is treated differently compared to another in identical situations.
This practice goes against ethical values, as it represents injustice and a lack of impartiality towards the people affected because they are judged under different criteria.
Another conception of double standards is evidenced when someone claims to be in a specific position regarding a situation or issue, and performs actions that demonstrate just the opposite.
There may or may not be bad intention
Double standards can arise for various reasons, and not in all cases should there be bad intentions on the part of those who put it into practice, although this does not justify its application.
For example, someone who has to exercise some rule may consider someone they appreciate in a positive way, unlike someone with whom they have conflicts. Sometimes it is possible that this predisposition is not even conscious, but is based purely on the subjectivity of the individual. However, it is a reflection of a weak and biased criterion.
When a person incurs in the exercise of double standards, he tends to show attitudes that seek to justify his actions so as not to receive criticism from the social circle that surrounds him and the rest of society.
It may also happen that this person seems to remember only the situations that favor him and not those for which he could be criticized.
Examples
It is very easy to find situations in everyday life in which double standards are present, since its application can occur in various common scenarios. We will describe some examples below:
- Judge someone for something that the person does. For example, an individual criticizes another for being unfaithful: both parties involved have acted dishonestly, but if one of the parties criticizes the other for cheating, he is using criteria to judge him that do not apply to himself.
- Saying to be against consumerism but being up-to-date with all the technology that occurs frequently, changing electronic devices at each launch or wasting money on unnecessary items.
- Support someone of a specific gender, applaud that they are very open sexually and maintain a high number of partners, and criticize the opposite sex when they do exactly the same.
- Criticize the actors and actresses involved in the field of pornography, but be a regular consumer of it.
- Saying to be in favor of recycling and caring for the environment and criticizing another person who does not consider this a priority, and at the same time throwing garbage on the floor or leaving waste when doing outdoor activities such as picnics or walks to the beach.
- Judge tax evasion, but find a way to perform accounting "tricks" or any kind of maneuver to make lower-than-corresponding declarations and thus obtain more benefits.
- Be against immigrants arriving in the country of origin and working illegally, and at the same time hiring foreign personnel who, precisely because of their legal condition, are satisfied with receiving a lower salary than a citizen of the country would receive with their documents in order.
- Criticize a certain practice that a person performs, and justify and support a loved one who does exactly the same. For example, a mother who criticizes the behavior of other people's children, while her own behave in a similar way.
- Claiming to be in favor of supporting the most needy and of monetary donations, but being selfish with one's own money and allocating the income only to satisfy personal tastes.
Consequences
The presence of double standards in a society can cause serious consequences both for the person who incurs it and for other parties involved.
Whoever performs an action that manifests his double standard is usually criticized by society in a strong way, as it is considered a fault linked to ethics and values.
Similarly, whoever demonstrates double standard judgments at some point may be rejected by society and may lose the respect and trust of people; This is so thanks to the display of contradictory behaviors and the application of few criteria of impartiality that, therefore, are unfair.
Likewise, the application of rules to some people and not others can generate resentment and anger from those who are harmed by the imposed rules.
These people usually direct their annoyances towards the group of people who were benefited and, mainly, towards the one who rendered the judgment lacking impartiality.
The irritation and resentment that may arise between members of a group can become very deep and, in turn, can lead to the division of the group, breaking unity and relations of brotherhood and respect.
References
- Klaus, P. (2010). Women and the double standard of office behavior. Retrieved March 14 from The New York Times: nytimes.com
- Damiano, F. (2012). Double standards in action: an experimental approach to the social dispute of the body of future workers. Retrieved on March 14 from the University of Costa Rica: ts.ucr.ac.cr
- Vilchez, Y. (2012). Moral and ethic. Retrieved on March 14 from the Dialnet Foundation: dialnet.unirioja.es
- Caballero, N. (2018). Double standards and their origin. Retrieved on March 14 from La Prensa: prensa.com
- Yujeong, K., Eunmi, L., Haeyoung, L. (2019). Sexual Double Standard, Dating Violence Recognition, and Sexual Assertiveness among University Students in South Korea. Retrieved on March 14 from Asian Nursing Research: asian-nursingresearch.com