How to use double standard dispute for counselling?
Answers
A double standard is the application of different sets of principles for situations that are, in principle, the same,[1] and is often used to describe freedom that is given to one party over another.[2] A double-standard arises when two or more people, circumstances, or events are treated differently even though they should be treated the same way.[3] Margaret Eichler, author of The Double Standard: A Feminist Critique of Feminist Social Science, explains that a double standard “implies that two things which are the same are measured by different standards”.[4]
Applying different principles to similar-looking situations may or may not indicate a double standard. In order to distinguish between the application of a double-standard and the valid application of different standards towards circumstances that only appear to be the same, several factors must be examined. One is the sameness of those circumstances - what are the parallels between those circumstances, and in what ways do they differ?. Another is the philosophy or belief system informing which principles should be applied to those circumstances. Different standard can be applied to situations that appear similar based on a qualifying truth or fact that, upon closer examination, renders those situations distinct (i.e. a physical reality, a moral obligation etc.). However, if similar-looking situations have been treated according to different principles and there is no truth, fact or principle that distinguishes those situations, then a double standard has been applied.
If correctly identified, a double standard is viewed negatively as it usually indicates the presence of hypocritical, biased, and/or unfair attitudes leading to unjust behaviors.