Despite the progress made toward gender equality in modern society, it’s clear that women continue to face unfair expectations and pressures. Outdated standards and societal norms still dictate how women are perceived and treated in various aspects of life. This article highlights some of the most unreasonable standards that women are still expected to meet today.
Regret Over Childlessness
If a woman chooses not to have children, then a person is more likely to tell her she’ll regret it compared to a man who chooses this. A gender study from the INED states, “Becoming a parent has been described as a dominant social norm, especially for women.” There’s a sense of societal disbelief when a woman says she doesn’t want children.
Obligation to Wear Makeup
If women don’t wear makeup, then many can view this as laziness. It’s always been considered a way that a woman completes her look. Some workplaces may even enforce makeup in their company policies, especially those that are customer-facing. It’s an outdated expectation that women should always appear “made-up.”
Accepting Sexual Harassment
Women are often told to ignore inappropriate behavior, even in today’s modern society. There’s pressure put on them to always respond politely to any unwanted advancements, more often in smaller environments. Not only this, but there’s a stigma surrounding women who confront or reject harassment.
Domestic Role Expectations
There’s the stereotype that women belong at home and should be the ones doing all the cooking and cleaning. These are outdated views on a woman’s role when it comes to family and the household. There are signs of some resistance against this in society, but it’s still something that happens.
Dual Burden of Work and Home
Women are expected to manage both professional and domestic responsibilities. This creates inequality when it comes to household chores. Along with this, there’s also pressure on a woman to excel in her career and manage a home perfectly at the same time.
Event Planning Responsibilities
When it comes to family and event planning, it’s always assumed that women will carry out this role. It shows an unequal distribution of planning and organizing family activities. The contributions that women make to managing family schedules are often something that’s overlooked.
Pressure to Be Lady-like
Lapp writes, “The pressure women feel to be agreeable can manifest in being a people-pleaser above all else, which can be particularly damaging regarding consent.” This also includes criticism, especially if a woman displays assertiveness or boldness, with examples of this seen in leading female figures in politics.
Marriage and Age Expectations
There have been unrealistic age expectations for when a woman should get married. It shows a discrepancy between when the right age is for a woman and when the right age is for a man, with the man being particularly older. Many people have started to critique these societal norms and the fact that a woman should marry when she’s ready.
Contradictory Dress Codes
Women are expected to dress attractively, but not “provocatively.” There is always judgement over what a woman wears, whether that’s something casual, for the workplace, or on a night out. It shows double standards in societal expectations, as there aren’t the same dress codes for men.
Unrealistic Physical Standards
Women have unrealistic physical standards. For example, they are expected to be both thin and curvy at the same time. There are societal pressures put on women to conform to the ideal body type, even if it means cosmetic procedures. The criticism women face over their bodies doesn’t seem to be going away anytime soon.
Shaving and Body Hair
There’s a stigma over natural body hair on women. This comes with pressure to remove the hair and always ensure it never grows back. This is also supposed to be what will leave them looking youthful. These societal expectations are a double standard, as men aren’t required to do the same.
Natural Makeup Paradox
Women are supposed to wear makeup but also make it look natural. This is argued by ScoopWhoop, which writes, “If she feels confident and beautiful in makeup, she should be able to wear it without hesitation and fear of judgement.” This is another example of unrealistic beauty standards.
Smiling and Friendliness
It’s expected that a woman should always be smiling and remain friendly. Sometimes, when a woman is being friendly, it can also be interpreted as flirting by men. Even in modern times, there are still societal pressures on a woman’s demeanor and emotional expression.
Dressing for Others
There have been many debates over who women dress for, whether that’s men, other women, or their political views, and it’s something society can’t let go of. For example, Vogue India writes, “The confines of a woman’s wardrobe have a long-standing political history, mired in societal subtext.”
No Room for Complaint
Women are still expected to be docile and not voice any displeasure. They can still face criticism even when they assert themselves or show emotions other than happiness. There have always been societal pressures for women to maintain a facade of contentment, no matter what.
Expected to Desire Relationships
An assumption in modern society is that all women seek romantic relationships. This also includes a stigma surrounding all women who choose to remain single. Many people still believe that a woman’s happiness is tied to her romantic love and her relationship status.
Indifference to Partners’ Looks
When women do choose to seek a partner, they should base their initial attraction on a person’s personality instead of their physical looks and financial status. There is an acceptance of “dad bods” in society, but the same can’t be said for mothers, who actually have to go through the process of birthing a child.
Career and Motherhood
There is an expectation that women should always be able to seamlessly balance motherhood and their careers without any support. Sometimes, women can face judgment if they prioritize their career over their family and vice versa, thus putting them in a lose-lose situation.