Life isn’t fair. Let’s repeat that once more so that everyone hears it, shall we? Life—it really isn’t fair. We certainly don’t live in a world where there’s ‘perfect’ justice everywhere. But, generally speaking, things could definitely be fairer. That’s a sentiment that most of you Pandas probably could get behind. And you wouldn’t be the only ones. Seeing examples of unfairness happen in front of you can really make your blood boil.
Redditors from all around the globe opened up about the double standards they hate the most in a thread on r/AskReddit. Their stories shone a spotlight on the places where society—and humankind—still needs to improve.
Scroll down for the worst double standards out there, Pandas, and share your own thoughts on the topic in the comments below.
Redditor u/MajorInstruction2522, the author of the thread, was kind enough to share her thoughts about double standards and how they impact society. Check out what she told Bored Panda below.
Meanwhile, Bored Panda also got in touch with Psychologist and Wellbeing Specialist Lee Chambers, the founder of Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing, for a chat about dealing with unfairness and the anger that can arise from that. “We are often brought up in a world that suggests fairness is a gold standard, and we should strive for fairness. But the reality is that life isn’t fair, and there is little we can do to make it fair, meaning fairness itself isn’t a great concept. Awareness of how we react to this unfairness is an important starting point, as we can often let these emotions such as anger, sadness, and disappointment cloud our judgment and make us suffer,” he explained to us.
According to the expert, we can try reframing the idea of unfairness happening to us. Instead of seeing ourselves as a victim of unfairness, we can be a survivor of it. This can empower us to accept and move beyond what we can control.
#1
The double standard I despise the most are the people who claim to be “pro-life.” No the hell you aren’t. You just care about abortions. Once that tiny clump of cells is out of the womb, you couldn’t give less of a s**t about what happens to it. They believe every clump of cells is sacred until that clump of cells, turned human, is blasted to literal bits by a gun. There was a little girl at the Uvalde shooting who was identified by her bloodied shirt because her head had exploded due to the bullets of the firearm. However, for her, all she will receive are “thoughts and prayers.” Thoughts and prayers do jack s**t for a kid who is dead. No legislation, just words and thoughts sent into the ether.
Image source: ProfessionalNutCase, Marc Majam
#2
Wealthy get away with crimes that would put a poor in prison
Image source: ethanol713, Austin Distel
#3
when the only diaper changing station is in the women’s restroom. The floor of the men’s room is not the best area to change babies for us dads, who also need to do so.
Image source: WandaBJohnson, Mike Mozart
#4
When a woman’s nipples are so much as visible through a shirt, it’s inappropriate, but when a man with tits 3 sizes larger than mine walks around shirtless, nobody gives a f**k. As minor of an issue as this is, it’s infuriating.
Image source: Jaded-Choice-664
#5
Affluent people use government subsidies and tax loopholes all the time but complain that poor people take things for free.
Image source: string1969, Kelly Sikkema
#6
Billionaires not paying taxes. Billionaires getting bailed out, while the rest of us accept that minimum wage hasn’t been adjusted for the rate of inflation. Also, billionaires with full time employees on food stamps to subsidize their lower than live wages pay. Then the employee is said to be leaching off the system.
If you can make billions and your employees are on food stamps, then you’re the one leaching.
Image source: Graceland1979, Emre Alırız
#7
Being a male teacher, it truly aggravates me that I can’t comfort any students in a kind way because it’s inappropriate to give them hugs. A female teacher, on the other hand, can figuratively have a kid sit on her lap during read-alouds. If I do this, I’m headed straight for the dog pound.
Image source: AnnCHarms, Arthur Krijgsman
#8
When religious cult leaders are telling to people live modestly but using Cadillacs, Mercedes, expensive as f**k aircrafts and have a villas and huge wallets.
Image source: codm_playernumwhat, Abdullah Gouiaa
#9
It’s obnoxious as a single dad of three kids where schools want to “talk to the mom”
Image source: Negafox, Juliane Liebermann
#10
Whenever people act like guys who get laid with multiple partners are called players while women who do this are sluts.
I really hate this double standard.
Image source: Xiao_Qinggui
#11
It’s always assumed that Mom is the parent and Dad is just there for backup/support.
Image source: bangersnmash13, Leah Kelley
#12
Female that doesn’t want kids: what a horrible person! You’ll change your mind soon. Just have one and then you’ll change your mind. (Seriously, it’s like she said she wants to slaughter babies or something.)
Dude that doesn’t want kids: Oh that’s normal. Let’s get beers.
Image source: RandomGovtEmployee
#13
Society: Be who you are! Society: not like that, please
Image source: JohnCTerry2, Anny Patterson
#14
Dudes are assertive. Chicks are bossy.
Also why tf aren’t dudes allowed to have parental instincts or look out for kids.
Image source: Raaqu, Andrea Piacquadio
#15
How little mental issues are talked about. Men are told to man up if they cry and if women cry they’re sensitive or on their period. Also PPD. not talked about enough
Image source: Sensitive-Many-8674, Inzmam Khan
#16
Step Parenting. I hate that bio parents are more respectable although they are only taking responsibility for a child they made. Meanwhile I don’t get near as much credit for taking care of a child that chose to accept as my own.
Image source: Just-a-Party-Muffin, Nataliya Vaitkevich
#17
When a woman takes care of her child she’s parenting. When a man does it he’s “babysitting”.
Image source: GreatXs, Eli Duke
#18
Body hair on men is fine, but body hair on women is “Gross” or “unhygienic” so stupid
Image source: Anonymousgirl182
#19
one time in like 8th grade, this rather pretty girl (that i hated) from my class came running in from the halls, red as a tomato, she told us that she just tried to sneak a photo of some hot guy, and forgot to turn off her flash, and she was embarrassed as f**k, everyone thought it was hilarious. to this day i think about how it would have turned out if A) the genders were swapped, or B) she was ugly
Image source: Mads664, Onur Binay
#20
Women abusing men. Happens so much, even in the public light. Be it verbal or physical, they get away with it.
Image source: AbatedFawn, Timur Weber
#21
Lazy people in the workplace get away with being lazy, however when the hard worker slacks off they’re criticized. While both get paid the same.
Image source: Helicoppter, Andrea Piacquadio
#22
The laws don’t seem to apply to lawmakers
Image source: robbycakes
#23
Tommy Lee posts a d**k pic: F*****G LEGEND
Britney Spears posts a (censored) nude pic: UNSTABLE BAD MOTHER
Image source: theglassjaw
#24
When wearing make-up: “Why not show your natural beauty?” Without make-up: “Are you feeling sick or tired..?”
Image source: LLiselot, Ana Itonishvili
#25
On the other hand, people often fawn over a father doing normal basic parenting things like changing diapers or taking a kid to the playground like “OMG what a hands on father, that’s so sweet!” Whereas when a mom does it, no one thinks twice about it.
Image source: allid33, Pavel Danilyuk
#26
*Woman has a job not remotely related to her appearance*
Everyone: makes unsolicited comments on her appearance.
*Man has a job unrelated to his appearance.*
Everyone: Talks about his skill level/personality/other relevant trait.
Image source: AbbreviationsProud37
#27
People who smoke get multiple smoke breaks but if I take a 5 minute break, I’m seen as lazy
Image source: Lopsided_Platypus_51
#28
Imagine a one night stand. The woman got pregnant. Men don’t have the right to demand an abortion or sign their duties as a father away, but still have to pay child support, if the mom decides to keep the baby.
Image source: dokkiy, Amr Taha™
#29
Parents telling their kids to do as they say but not as they do. Set the freaking example.
Image source: Rangestalker, August de Richelieu
#30
How short men (a genetic trait impossible to change) are often laughed at, but if you make fun of a fat woman (a trait absolutely possible to change), it’s suddenly wrong
In a similar vein, rape jokes about men are made all the time (think “don’t drop the soap” in prison movies, or Vince Vaughn getting repeatedly raped in Wedding Crashers) even though if the genders were switched it would clearly be wrong
Image source: PerpetualHillman, SHVETS production
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