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I Took Self Portraits To Show Some Of The Double Standards In Our Society
I have spent the last year mentally acquiring social double standards, working them out on paper and then executing each one as a self-portrait. The idea came to me while serving martinis at 11 am to the wealthy people of my county.
Who were they to deem this act classy while shaming a person drinking vodka out of a bottle before noon? Thus “Double Standards” was born.
As you can imagine, the concepts easily started flowing once I drew my attention to the subject. We are a society of finger pointers. Whether we state our opinions out loud or keep them internal, we are all guilty of looking at another human being and saying: “Ugh, can you BELIEVE they did/are doing this, that, blah. blah. blah.”
We shame mothers for staying home and “being lazy” while condemning mothers who go back to work as “selfish.” We scoff at a woman for having body hair while men are free to No Shave November. Men attend the beach topless and women are deemed whores for the same act.
It’s time to say “NO! Fuck off, you are not my judge.”
More info: zealousstills.com
Female body hair vs. male body hair
Classy drunk vs. trashy drunk
A man’s Nipple vs. woman’s nipple
Working mom vs. stay at home mom
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What do you think ?
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you!! I defiantly plan on it!
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Petra Christovová 6 years ago
Another huge double standard: Bald head. Absolutely not a problem for men, they can be bald at any age and nobody cares. Bald women? That is considered totally unacceptable and super-weird. Most women become hysterical even at slightest hint of hair thinning.
Panda Panda 6 years ago
Why do people like this care what other people think? What other people think of you is none of your damned business. Adopt that motto and move on to a happier life.
alwright 6 years ago
Really cool, definitely see that a lot. You could dive WAY into body hair. It's like, why do you care if I shave my legs or not?? Guy's DON'T HAVE TO and they can be hairy beasts but nooooo it's unladylike like for me. I did't choose to be half Armenian. X'D
Barbara 6 years ago
I have never understood why I had to shave or why it's disgusting when I didn't. I mean, men can? And now if someone would tell me that biological there's a difference between the men and woman as far as bodyhair goes and how hygienic it is, I'd be like 'oh, I should' but so far it just seems to be a preference. It seems to be beautful/accepteble for a man, and 'unwomanlike' for, well, a woman. Which shows it to be a personal preference. I don't like men with (a lot of) bodyhair, but I'm not going to tell them to shave it off because I don't like it.
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Shruti Naik 6 years ago
These are amazing! Please do some more! I felt as if the article ended too soon!
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you! I will absolutely continue!
Load More Replies...
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you so much! I plan on adding on!
Load More Replies...
Cookie 6 years ago
How about food? Men chomping on a big burger are manly, women are greedy. Men can have a paunch but women must be thin.
anarkzie 6 years ago
That might have been true a few years ago but now the reverse is true, calling a woman greedy or saying that a woman should be thin is fat shaming and is not socially acceptable.
Load More Replies...
Kristyn Schulz 6 years ago
THats cool I like photos that both mean something and look like something interesting
Danie L 6 years ago
I love those!! Especially the one concerning body hair. Just read an article about a woman who was left by her partner because she decided for herself not to shave her armpits anymore. WTF. There was also a pic of the man included. As you might already thought of yourself, he - of course - was hairy from top till bottom.
Matthew A 6 years ago
Men are attracted to breasts because they show signs of maturaty and motherhood, which is why they get aroused and which is also why it is rendered mature content. It's not a double standard, it's a reasonable standard.
Marnee DeRider 6 years ago
You are right that there is a difference between men's nipples and a woman's breasts. However, why is it sinful be naked? In many societies in warmer clients, most people walked around mostly naked and it wasn't an issue. It's a cultural thing that could change if we wanted it to.
Load More Replies...
Mylah Rose 6 years ago
After all that intro and how passionate about it she is, after a year of work... I have to say I expected more than four photos. Would have been nice to see more.
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Absolutely working on more! I was testing the waters to get feedback :)
Load More Replies... anarkzie 6 years ago
Female body hair vs. male body hair: Generally speaking men and women have different beauty standards, body hair is just one of a long list, example a man cannot wear skirts, make-up and heels etc without it being a statement about his sexuality or gender. Classy drunk vs. trashy drunk: I think this is very true, we are weirdly more accepting or rich people getting drunk than poorer people. A man’s Nipple vs. woman’s nipple: again true but I think the problem a woman would have would be more along the lines of the amount of attention a woman would get and if she wanted to deal with having men looking. Working mom vs. stay at home mom: I think this depends on where you live in England, women are expected to go back to work, I've not heard of anyone being shamed for this.
BarryAllenTheFlash 6 years ago
These are gorgeous! They illustrate society's standards so well. As someone who struggles with positive body images, they are perfectly represented. Everything people see is so black and white. You're either too thin or too fat. Too tall or too short. Anorexic, or you eat too much.
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you so much <3 It's really amazing how many can be listed once you start thinking about it!
Load More Replies... 
Julie Lynn 6 years ago
Not only are they beautifully done in black and white photography but are thought out. The realistic sides of both views are wonderful. It's funny though. Women seem to like hairy things and men seem to like smooth things. :) All in all, a wonderful job and a great insight on double standards! Two thumbs Up!! :) :)
Darryl Kerrigan 6 years ago
Is the last one a double standard? The OP says that with the mums they are both negatively viewed, as either selfish or lazy?
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Some double standards have one side that is acceptable and the other is unacceptable. As for the mothers, we are held to unattainable standards. The definition of "Double Standard" is a rule or principle that is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups. Imagine if a man was shamed for going back to work after having a baby? It doesn't exactly happen. A good way to branch off of this concept though is to talk about stay at home dads, that is also a taboo subject! Your question made me think...thank you <3
Load More Replies...
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you!! I defiantly plan on it!
Load More Replies... Petra Christovová 6 years ago
Another huge double standard: Bald head. Absolutely not a problem for men, they can be bald at any age and nobody cares. Bald women? That is considered totally unacceptable and super-weird. Most women become hysterical even at slightest hint of hair thinning.
Panda Panda 6 years ago
Why do people like this care what other people think? What other people think of you is none of your damned business. Adopt that motto and move on to a happier life.
alwright 6 years ago
Really cool, definitely see that a lot. You could dive WAY into body hair. It's like, why do you care if I shave my legs or not?? Guy's DON'T HAVE TO and they can be hairy beasts but nooooo it's unladylike like for me. I did't choose to be half Armenian. X'D
Barbara 6 years ago
I have never understood why I had to shave or why it's disgusting when I didn't. I mean, men can? And now if someone would tell me that biological there's a difference between the men and woman as far as bodyhair goes and how hygienic it is, I'd be like 'oh, I should' but so far it just seems to be a preference. It seems to be beautful/accepteble for a man, and 'unwomanlike' for, well, a woman. Which shows it to be a personal preference. I don't like men with (a lot of) bodyhair, but I'm not going to tell them to shave it off because I don't like it.
Load More Replies... Shruti Naik 6 years ago
These are amazing! Please do some more! I felt as if the article ended too soon!
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you! I will absolutely continue!
Load More Replies... Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you so much! I plan on adding on!
Load More Replies... Cookie 6 years ago
How about food? Men chomping on a big burger are manly, women are greedy. Men can have a paunch but women must be thin.
anarkzie 6 years ago
That might have been true a few years ago but now the reverse is true, calling a woman greedy or saying that a woman should be thin is fat shaming and is not socially acceptable.
Load More Replies... Kristyn Schulz 6 years ago
THats cool I like photos that both mean something and look like something interesting
Danie L 6 years ago
I love those!! Especially the one concerning body hair. Just read an article about a woman who was left by her partner because she decided for herself not to shave her armpits anymore. WTF. There was also a pic of the man included. As you might already thought of yourself, he - of course - was hairy from top till bottom.
Matthew A 6 years ago
Men are attracted to breasts because they show signs of maturaty and motherhood, which is why they get aroused and which is also why it is rendered mature content. It's not a double standard, it's a reasonable standard.
Marnee DeRider 6 years ago
You are right that there is a difference between men's nipples and a woman's breasts. However, why is it sinful be naked? In many societies in warmer clients, most people walked around mostly naked and it wasn't an issue. It's a cultural thing that could change if we wanted it to.
Load More Replies... Mylah Rose 6 years ago
After all that intro and how passionate about it she is, after a year of work... I have to say I expected more than four photos. Would have been nice to see more.
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Absolutely working on more! I was testing the waters to get feedback :)
Load More Replies... anarkzie 6 years ago
Female body hair vs. male body hair: Generally speaking men and women have different beauty standards, body hair is just one of a long list, example a man cannot wear skirts, make-up and heels etc without it being a statement about his sexuality or gender. Classy drunk vs. trashy drunk: I think this is very true, we are weirdly more accepting or rich people getting drunk than poorer people. A man’s Nipple vs. woman’s nipple: again true but I think the problem a woman would have would be more along the lines of the amount of attention a woman would get and if she wanted to deal with having men looking. Working mom vs. stay at home mom: I think this depends on where you live in England, women are expected to go back to work, I've not heard of anyone being shamed for this.
BarryAllenTheFlash 6 years ago
These are gorgeous! They illustrate society's standards so well. As someone who struggles with positive body images, they are perfectly represented. Everything people see is so black and white. You're either too thin or too fat. Too tall or too short. Anorexic, or you eat too much.
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Thank you so much <3 It's really amazing how many can be listed once you start thinking about it!
Load More Replies... Julie Lynn 6 years ago
Not only are they beautifully done in black and white photography but are thought out. The realistic sides of both views are wonderful. It's funny though. Women seem to like hairy things and men seem to like smooth things. :) All in all, a wonderful job and a great insight on double standards! Two thumbs Up!! :) :)
Darryl Kerrigan 6 years ago
Is the last one a double standard? The OP says that with the mums they are both negatively viewed, as either selfish or lazy?
Molly Freund (Post author) 6 years ago
Some double standards have one side that is acceptable and the other is unacceptable. As for the mothers, we are held to unattainable standards. The definition of "Double Standard" is a rule or principle that is unfairly applied in different ways to different people or groups. Imagine if a man was shamed for going back to work after having a baby? It doesn't exactly happen. A good way to branch off of this concept though is to talk about stay at home dads, that is also a taboo subject! Your question made me think...thank you <3
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