A double standard is defined as a set of principles that are applied in different ways for different people or groups. In this day of age, double standards are everywhere. It's nearly impossible to escape from them. Double standards are often used to demean a certain group of people.

At some point in our lives, we have all heard that a man should never hit a woman. If it were to be the other way around, it's completely acceptable. So basically society is telling us that it's acceptable for a woman to hit a man even though it's wrong for a man to hit a woman. Hitting a person is wrong no matter what gender one is. Besides the "it's acceptable for a woman to hit a man, but wrong for a man to hit a woman" double standard, I can think of many others.

When a woman abuses a child, she gets help/counseling, but when a man abuses a child, he gets jail time.

If a man is hanging out with a group of females, he is a lady's man, but if a woman is hanging out with a group of males, she is a slut.

If a woman flirts, she is being cute, but if a man flirts, he is being creepy.

If a woman surprisingly kisses a man, she is flirty, but if a man surprisingly kisses a woman, he is perverted.

I could go on with listing double standards that exist in our world today. In my opinion, double standards are a way of inequality. A man should be able to kiss his boo by surprise if he wants to. He's not being a pervert, he is only showing love to his sweetie pie. A woman should be allowed to hang out with a group of guy friends without being called a slut. The problem with double standards is that people assume negative things. Take the woman hanging with a group of guys for example. People will assume that the woman is trying to flirt with all those men and they will call her a slut. Humans are judgemental creatures; they are quick to jump to conclusions if they see something they don't like to see.

Unfortunately, double standards are everywhere. There is no hiding from them whatsoever. And who's to blame for that? We humans. It's important to not judge a person based on their gender, race, religion, etc. If a man or woman does something wrong, they should get equal consequences for their actions. On the other hand, if a man or a woman does something with their friends or lovers, their actions should be viewed equally. It's up to us to stop with the inequality. All it will take is working together.