Kimberly+C's+OpEd+Article

media type="file" key="kimc-muckraker-2011.mp3"

"Down With Double Standards" Kimberly Coverly

Frankly, I am sick and tired of double standards.

When my cousin, Nick, moved into my house at the age of 17 he was quickly confronted with the rules of my parents. His rules: Home by midnight on a school night. Girls in your bedroom if the door is open. One o'clock curfew on weekends.

I was happy with the rules, that is until I got my license and rules began to apply to me. My rules: Home by nine on a school night. (and you cant go out on school nights much anyways) No boys in your bedroom. Eleven o'clock curfew on weekends.

Were they joking!? I assumed that since my cousin received such liberal rules I would be given the same opportunity. My understanding was that unless I broke the rules I would be allowed the same privileges as he was. When I brought these points to the attention of my mother, she replied with, "You're a girl and he is a boy. We have different rules for you because girls need to be protected more." Am I the only one who finds this judgment unfair?

Standards should be based on age and responsibility, not the type of genitalia I posses!

Aside from the double standards set forth by parents, hypocritical standards surround girls everywhere. Fact: When guys sleep around they are praised by their friends. When girls sleep around they are spurned by their friends and labeled the school slut.

Quit it with the double standards! We are just as human as the other sex.