Is this a case of double standards?

Question

A few months ago, my local TV news report had a "fluff" piece, a feel-good story at the end of the news. It was about a teenage boy who plays guitar and sings at places like theme parks and so on. He was a very pretty little blond boy who was 14, looked 11, and had been performing since he was 10.

The news report said that he had female fans from ages 8 to 40, and showed some middle-aged women lining up to get his autograph and looking excited, as one does at a concert. The tone of the news report was very much: "How cute is this? And good on him".

I'm not suggesting those women were doing, or even thinking, anything wrong. It's entirely possible they were captivated by his unbroken voice, despite him sounding like Minnie Mouse.

However, I did wonder if the news would have reported the story in quite such glowing terms if it had been a pretty little blonde GIRL singer who was 14 and looked 11, with middle-aged men lining up to meet her and looking excited?

By the way, I'm not advocating for a society where adults of either gender cannot enjoy the society of attractive or talented young people of either gender.

I'm just curious as to whether the news would have treated a female performer in the same way.

Answer 1

If you're going for a truly gender neutral society where the roles of men can include parenting - then yes.

The implication here seem to me to be that women are justified in liking the boy because he is like a kid and they are taking on a maternal role.

There is a stereotype here that a man can only be interested in a female for sex, whereas his interest could not possibly be paternal, a stereotype that often carries over into impugning his rights and societal views of him as a father.

Basically it's based on a double standard created by feminists to remove men from families/childcare, despite complaints that male childcare is not possible due to patriarchal double standards.

Answer 2

I think it's more about protecting the girl. I know you guys are too young to know about this but in the 1970's lots of grown men - fathers- were 'jumping on' their own children's babysitter(s). I had this happen to me when I was 13 - the man's poor wife was in the hospital having his baby! This was by NO means an isolated incident either, it happened on a number of occassions with different "fathers". I remember lots of girls my age had similar experiences. In those days the girl probably wouldn't have told anyone because the blame would have been put on HER ('children should be seen and not heard'). For this reason I never said anything about it to any adult. The point is that in those days many men had no hesitation about doing this - the stereotype remains firmly entrenched. I had a discussion years ago with a friend - who is a medical doctor. He told me he considered male-male pedophila more "sick" than when the victimiser is male and his victim female. There are more straight men than gay men in the world. There are more male pedophiles who would abuse a young girl than there are pedophiles - of either sex - who would seek out young male victims. Aside from the obvious conclusions - derived from pretty basic "number crunching' - I contend that this is in part because society views the two a bit differently: old men have been having affairs with young women since the dawn of time. Older women dating younger men are called 'cougars"; it is only recently that such unions (example Demi Moore and whats-his-name) have been recognised. This part is obvious. Yes, that does amount to a 'double-standard', but is quite the reverse of what you had expected. And so that's society - and patriarchy - for ya...

Answer 3

Good point, chances are if the roles were reversed people would have thrown fits about middle aged men lining up for a 14 year old girl's autograph. I agree with you, the story would have been from a completely different point of view if it had been a girl.

Answer 4

Well, considering how sexualized Britney Spears was at 16 (or any of her "clones")-I don't think it's a double standard. At least they weren't showing this kid with his shirt off, and made into a sex object, like most female performers his age (not the shirt completely off, just almost). Let's face it...generally, young male performers are sex symbols for young female fans. I don't think Britney Spears' sexual appeal was limited to young guys...do you? As for how that local station treated the piece, and how it would have been treated if genders were reversed...it does seem hard to imagine, I guess, but it's also hard to imagine a seventeen year old boy in his underwear, posing sexily on the cover of Rolling Stone. So, the double standards go both ways.

Answer 5

They loved him for his talent. I don't think any grown woman in their right mind would think of a little boy that way. I mean a real woman wonder what can he do for me at that age? They want a grown man to take care of them. I think I would worry more if it were young girls idolizing over grown men in some boy band group. But I see your point with the double standard.

Answer 6

Yep, that would be a double-standard in my honest opinion. However, I wouldn't allow my child to be in any park alone, I don't care how safe it looks and if it is in the middle of the day, he is 11 and looks 14. It's just not that kind of world anymore.

Answer 7

You ever see that "South Park" episode where Ike is involved with his teacher? kyle goes to tell the police, who only respond by saying "Ni-Ce". The standard is double.

On the flip side, a young kid with more talent then most adults is something newsworthy, and honest, proper achievements by our youth should be recognized and celebrated.

Answer 8

The men are the one who sent their wives, girlfriends, sisters, daughters and mothers to get his autograph. But they can't line up because they are afraid they may look like pedophiles.

Answer 9

Yes was it the opposite they would have called her fans ''sick perverts'' or sickos or phycos or whatever.

Answer 10

No they wouldn't have.