While women have fought tirelessly to be treated as equal to men, the oppression of women persists because women’s sexuality continues to be emphasized by society more than other attributes and characteristics. Patriarchy not only has men at the forefront of political and religious decisions, but also it allows men to control social and cultural institutions. This results in misplaced authority over women, their bodies, and how they are perceived by society. Men and boys believe they should be able to express their sexuality without consequence while women and girls are to have their sexual activity regulated. Female sexuality is repressed by the double standards of the popularly practiced hook-up culture while, simultaneously, it is exploited
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Although today’s hook-up culture “affords young people more freedom than ever before,” “there continues to be a double standard for the sexual lives of men and women” (Bogle 96). Prior to the sexual revolution, it was looked down upon for women to have sex outside of marriage. Now, both men and women are more likely to have had sex before marriage than they are to practice celibacy. Although it has become the norm for women to be sexually active outside of committed relationships, they are expected to do so only to a certain extent. “For women who are active participants, the hookup system is fraught with pitfalls that can lead to being labeled a ‘slut’” (Bogle 103). On the other hand, men are not asked to refrain from pursuing whatever sexual conquests they please. Women who have the same amount of sexual partners or engage in sex as often as men are left with a stigma. They are seen as “dirty” or “easy.” Although “the women’s movement…aimed to free women of this kind of labeling by encouraging all women to embrace their sexuality,” there continues to be a strong negative attitude towards women who practice the same sexual behavior as men (Bogle 96). Therefore, the belief that women enjoy the same sexual freedom as men is an illusion. While women are technically free to participate, many refrain or approach encounters with apprehension, knowing that frequent participation could potentially result in a bad
Although today’s hook-up culture “affords young people more freedom than ever before,” “there continues to be a double standard for the sexual lives of men and women” (Bogle 96). Prior to the sexual revolution, it was looked down upon for women to have sex outside of marriage. Now, both men and women are more likely to have had sex before marriage than they are to practice celibacy. Although it has become the norm for women to be sexually active outside of committed relationships, they are expected to do so only to a certain extent. “For women who are active participants, the hookup system is fraught with pitfalls that can lead to being labeled a ‘slut’” (Bogle 103). On the other hand, men are not asked to refrain from pursuing whatever sexual conquests they please. Women who have the same amount of sexual partners or engage in sex as often as men are left with a stigma. They are seen as “dirty” or “easy.” Although “the women’s movement…aimed to free women of this kind of labeling by encouraging all women to embrace their sexuality,” there continues to be a strong negative attitude towards women who practice the same sexual behavior as men (Bogle 96). Therefore, the belief that women enjoy the same sexual freedom as men is an illusion. While women are technically free to participate, many refrain or approach encounters with apprehension, knowing that frequent participation could potentially result in a bad