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Equality is humanity's Holy Grail, the cornerstone of most value systems, but we have yet to reap all of its rewards. Sure, our society has tremendously evolved for the better during the last, say, 100 years, but a long journey is still ahead, and the vast array of double standards that still divide people to this day highlight this perfectly.

The double standard definition states that it is a rule or a principle applied to different people or groups. The most prominent case of double standard examples to this day come from gender equality. What's usually okay for men, is not acceptable when done by women. Starting with beach attire and ending with lady bosses, society finds unnecessary ways to chime in about what's wrong and what's right.

Bored Panda has compiled a list of insightful illustrations that uncover the uncomfortable truth behind some everyday life situations, and it's (mildly) disturbing how accurate they are. Judging by these images, it's clear that sometimes terms like 'gender equality' are reduced to no more than a catchphrase. Scroll down to see the proof for yourself, and vote for your favorites.

#2

Clothing Standards

Clothing Standards

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Carris Butcher
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I get fake geek girl all the time! I wear big glasses, I dress differently and I do occasionally play games. People I know say I'm trying to be a fake geek girl or gamer girl and I have no idea what they mean. I'm not trying to be anything I'm just comfy this way! I'm glad it's not just me who experiences this

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#3

Body Image Standards

Body Image Standards

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Zori the degu
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Woman's face though: "I live among idiots. Honestly, do you think that I want your f***ing opinion?"

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#9

Double Standards For Parents

Double Standards For Parents

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Zori the degu
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's really annoying. I only have an experience as a passer-by or a witness but I can say some people indeed are narrow-minded enough to act like that.

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#10

Double Standards On Emotions

Double Standards On Emotions

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D Rolls
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate the idea that males shouldn't cry at all. It bothers me so much because it's a natural thing for all humans, male or female.

enadejeanne avatar
ena dejeanne
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All things equal men are far less prone to crying than women and that's down to biology. Most gender stereotypes are actually deeply rooted in biological differences which over time concretize in culture.

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laetitiacarlile-purcarea avatar
Laetitia
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I really like that it shows double standards go both ways!

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Katinka Min
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This should be higher up. It's not as funny, but way more comprehensive than the others and shows how damaging the current gender stereotypes are to women AND men.

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Yeseul
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

this is the best one....showing both sides on the most common topics...

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Alistair McElwee
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So what really annoyed me was when I had a female employee who worked really hard on a project and knew it in and out. So we went to the meeting with (male)client - and he'd only talk to me. Every question was to me, and every time I'd turn to Ms. and repeat the question, and she'd answer. Then next question, again to me. I mean, if it's not to vulgar, WTF? She was the expert who'd lead the project ajdnInwas there only as her boss who'd assigned her the project she'd done so well. But, being a male, apparently I was the expert, no matter what. Sickening.

stellamarrs avatar
moonsong23
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I heard that it is scientifically proven that crying releases hormones that make you upset, and is therefore beneficial to you. And even if that isn't true, I still think that people should be able to cry no matter what gender.

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Nyssa Link
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG every single one of them is true... women has to find their "proper" place in business that's usually what's normal place to be for men. and men are expected to be emotionally mute to be seen as strong. like come onnnn

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Justin Griz
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see lots of debate that double standards don't exist. I'd like to share something I noticed. I've been binge watching shameless US. Male gendered character, first of his family to attend uni. Trying to be a conscientious student. Roommates girlfriend treats him like s**t. One night she's bored with her boyfriend and sneaks from his bed to the male characters & begins sucking his d**k while he's asleep (for those playing at home sexual assault and 'rape culture'?) He objects but she finishes anyway. (Rape). She decides she wants him rather than the boyfriend & becomes very pushy and controlling, setting timetables for when he can do pretty much anything. She notices he's getting annoyed with this & uses money and gifts to try to keep him. He becomes infatuated with another. She becomes angry & confronts him publicly, yelling and abusing him. She punches him in the face making his nose and mouth bleed. (DV). Crowd bursts into cheering & spontaneous applause.

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Reland McClure
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nailed it here! Personally, I like a man confident enough to be real with his emotions in every aspect of his life & allows a woman to do the same without passing judgement on her. I loathe double standards!

fisherd1958 avatar
Diana Fisher
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ugh! I have lived it, live it now and will probably always live it. I think it makes me stronger

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Haki Covington
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes, because society doesn't let men cry. Men are thought of as tough, and when they cry people look down upon them. You f*****g moron.

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Ashley Roth
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So why can't we all just be like whatever and not have labels !!

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Little Menace
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not all of them are actually true. We know a few guys whose wives/gf left and they were extremely upset and everyone helped them in a lot of ways. Some of them are true and others could have been more real. A man who has sex a lot gets all the admirations of his mates, whilst a woman is called a hoe and a s**t.

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Laury M.
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The point is not, "it always happens like that, all the time, for everyone". It's social perception at large, even if it doesn't happen to you specifically.

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haileyb_1 avatar
Kakegurui Sandwich
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I cry and I’m just emotional, any of my guy friends cry and they’re pathetic and weak.

max_7 avatar
hello there
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

took them a while to finally give a double standard that goes two ways.

alexandersmith_1 avatar
Alexander Smith
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Coward, weak and pathetic are the ones I often hear...and spineless. Occasionally they also say I'm too sensitive. Of course I was also taught I'm not allowed to feel anger so...this world is a mess.

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Grim Grimson
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Another one: Oh, you got beat up by a woman, you're weak. Oh no, he hit you, that piece of s**t deserves to rot in jail! These double standards piss me off, why are so many of these biased against men?

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Doctor Peppermint
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

...you know this comic was made by the woman that views herself as, and i quote: ''Non-binary genderqueer peoplequeer mentally ill non-monogamous kinky critical feminist robot'' and you still think this person is sane enough to make a rational argument?

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crazycoollady1999
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm a woman, but I still get shunned by others (especially my counselor) for crying. Is this normal?

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Paladin of Shadows
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And then you see me and my boyfriend, we're both emotional people and even though I cry more than him (what can I say, stress is a thing) neither him, I or any of our friends think this is correct.

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kishore almaji
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

husband beats wife... 'the guy is a bastard!' wife beats husband... 'the guy is such a loser!'

aarroncf87 avatar
Aarron Forste
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

These are all the same meanings, just used for the opposite sex... They provoke the same feelings. Just another play on words, like most of this article.

maggie_bailey8 avatar
Maggie Bailey
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some of these double standards are indeed hypocritical, as shownm but some of them exist because men and women are in fact different in many ways - equal, but different. Feminists and the Left always want to make out there are no differences between the sexes with this gender politics stuff, but it is just not true. Both sexes have complementary strengths and weaknesses. That is something that needs to be taken into account more. You can't force equality on every single circumstance in life!

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Adam Summerfield
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe biology/evolution has something to do with it? Women and men are different. Men are biologically expendable, no one gives a f**k about your feelings. That's why men are not supposed to cry. Women on the other hand are not expendable. An explanation is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhAE8g9lxWo&t=480s but honestly I thought evolutionary reasoning along the lines of gender is widely understood.

joelr avatar
Joel R
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do these artists even realise that men and women were made to be different? It's not a double standard to be different than the opposite sex. These are just basic facts of life.

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Alba Malva
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And, again, the problem about heteropatriarchy affects mainly to womans. If some man is considered "coward", for exemple, he "just" needs to avoid this reaction, but women are considered per se frightened and weak, it is not negative because it is their nature.

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Sam Jac
Community Member
6 years ago

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All these behaviour are disgusting for both sexes, there is no double standard here.

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Dima Less
Community Member
6 years ago

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Horny? Hmm... Never heard that. Try "pervert" instead.

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#11

Body Positivity

Body Positivity

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Liliana V
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The fact that they are both eating the same thing in the same portion size just really makes this extra sad.

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#12

Generalization

Generalization

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#13

Leadership Strategies

Leadership Strategies

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Anna Thouvenin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That reminds me of the man who made the experience of signing all his emails by a female name for a week to talk about gender inequality in doing business. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/what-happened-when-a-man-signed-work-emails-using-a-female-name-for-a-week_us_58c2ce53e4b054a0ea6a4066

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#14

Makeup vs. Natural

Makeup vs. Natural

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Anna Thouvenin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So damn true. One time I overheard my coworkers talking and these two guys were discussing about "girls who put makeup are so insecure, it's like they couldn't even go out without makeup if their life depended on it". Then another day in the same week, I was so tired I decided not to put makeup. The very same guy saying this was like "omg what happened to your face?". Yeah no wonder why women are "so insecure"...

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#16

Shameless Girls

Shameless Girls

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#17

Double Standards

Double Standards

For Better Or For Worse Report

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coffee zombie
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Women don't get round, they get curvy in all the right places. And that's sexy af.

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#18

Gender Equality

Gender Equality

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#19

Girls vs. Boys

Girls vs. Boys

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Ja Legge
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's true. Girls get bashed if she slept with a guy then that guy spreads a rumor abt them. Guy gets cheered on and a girl gets bashed.

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#20

Double Standards On Young Girls

Double Standards On Young Girls

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Daria B
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you're a true pro-life, instead of blaming a stranger, do something towards building a society where abortion is not needed. Same goes for (extremist) pro-choicers - instead of hating on some women's decisions, let's do something towards building society where abortion is not something a womam does because "she had no other choice".

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#21

Double Standards On Bodies

Double Standards On Bodies

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Captain Planet
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think only women have a problem with this. I can't imagine guy's really finding this a big deal. XD Also on the beach people sunbathe topless as well so. As far as armpit hair. Well you're free to do it. But people are also free to not find you attractive then. But there are all kinds of things people find attractive and not attractive so I don't really see a problem.

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#22

Shallow vs. Desperate

Shallow vs. Desperate

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Helen Burgess
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

very well done! and the girl in the second instance doesn't even get a speech-bubble, let alone a date!

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#24

Girls vs. Boys

Girls vs. Boys

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Kristin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are people like that?! When boys get laid everyone is proud! When girls get it they get punished!

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#25

Society's Take On Men

Society's Take On Men

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Michel M. Prins
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The second one will always be an idiotic statement, for both male and female. I hear it a lot, yet don't understand why it's a race to get intimate with another person. It's a personal experience and (can be) something special, on top of that: It's none of another's business, and if those think it is, they're the ones leading a sad life. Sure, the term "Lucky at cards, unlucky in love" is on it's place in this regard, but luck can switch lanes now and then.

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#26

Dad Bod vs. Mom Bod

Dad Bod vs. Mom Bod

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Sheila Stamey
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Have we totally forgotten how milf went ? Not that that was great but, seriously ? Which one do we pick? Can we just be who we are, male, female, or however, and just be happy? The insecurity is mind blowing to me, on behalf of the observer!

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#27

Sexual Harassment

Sexual Harassment

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Andrew Petrykowski
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

How is this a relevant comparison? How about comparing the reaction you get as a male when telling someone about being a victim of sexual assault.

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#28

Things You Can Only Do With Boys

Things You Can Only Do With Boys

Last Place Comics Report

#29

Double Standards

Double Standards

Scott Adams Report

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coffee zombie
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont agree that only weak men show emotion. It's nice to see a man who has emotions instead of trying to act like they are made of stone, with no feelings.

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#31

Comic Book Characters

Comic Book Characters

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Kori K. Warriner
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Honestly, I have a problem with either gender of superhero being displayed in a sexual manner.

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#32

Sexualizing Bodies

Sexualizing Bodies

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Stille20
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think they over sexualize super heroes, but there is a difference. The male characters are being portrayed as strong, the women as sexual. If female super heros looked more like Serena Williams or Kerri Walsh it would be different.

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#33

Equality

Equality

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Ivana
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We were playing around, play fighting when I kicked my husband in the balls. It wasn't on purpose and I instantly felt horrible as he spent about 5 minutes in pain on the floor. The worst he got me was an elbow to the nose that caused a nose bleed, and one where he slammed my back into the thermostat. Literally last week my husband asked "Why don't we wrestle anymore" and all that flashed through my head. I don't like the idea of women hitting men any more than a man hitting a woman. The only fighting I am okay with is play fighting.

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#35

Problem Solving

Problem Solving

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Anna Thouvenin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't agree with this one. Men get a lot of pressure on their bodies, as much as women. There is not a single person I met who said that they should "accept themselves" as a way to solve their problems (with getting laid). On the same note, any magazine cover will show that makeup is not a way to solve problems, or there wouldn't be 254 pages of the "new amazing diet already used by 45 stars that will make you lose weight before you even realize it". And we also have countless articles on "accept yourself and screw who doesn't, you don't need them anyway"...

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#36

Acceptable vs. Unacceptable

Acceptable vs. Unacceptable

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Anna Thouvenin
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As someone who hate body hair, both are unacceptable. But I don't care about what they do as long as I don't have to touch them :p

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#37

Double Standards

Double Standards

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#38

Men And Women

Men And Women

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Eglė Liubinaitė
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I kinda like emotional boys more, like, atleast they aren't like those "badass" shitsacks like others. Also, expressing emotions is actually good for own body.

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#39

Standards For Dressing

Standards For Dressing

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Luc Mailloux
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait... what is this trying to say, even? What I gather is that people will judge you regardless of how you look. Surprise!

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#40

Double Standards In The Workplace

Double Standards In The Workplace

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#42

Double Standards In Relationships

Double Standards In Relationships

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Pasca Mouse
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate it when people are like " Looks likes someones on there period." it's so annoying

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#43

Girl Power

Girl Power

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sunnyrei82
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

women like that are the ones who make people think wrong about feminism. And, because many people are soooo closed minded, they think every single woman who wants equity are like that.

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#44

Double Standards

Double Standards

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#45

Gender Equality

Gender Equality

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Silvia
Community Member
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No. Any statistics on the subject will show that women do not get paid equally for the same job, with the same qualifications and experience.

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#46

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