So yesterday Jon and I were watching The Cleveland Show. The episode was about Cleveland’s attempts to get his hot-to-trot 15 year-old stepdaughter to “pledge her virginity to her father” and remain a virgin until she’s married. Instead, his preteen son takes the pledge; for the rest of the episode, he and Cleveland are ridiculed for it.
I tease Jon about this all the time—that one day his daughter is going to have sex. While the timeless subject of fathers’ desperate attempts to keep their daughters chaste until marriage (if so soon) has always amused me, I have yet to find fair justification for the double standard that exists with sons. During the show, Cleveland tells his son that “a man’s virginity is a burden that must be cast off onto any woman willing to take it.” (I can almost hear the men of the world murmuring “Amen”). I’m sure there are plenty explanations as to why that’s true or OK, but none of them make it right. Why does a woman’s virginity and sexuality always seem to rest with or belong to someone else?
Whatever explanation you can come up with—biological, moral, cultural, practical or otherwise—the discrepancy is not rectified. You know why? Because double standards are, by definition, unfair.
If you will tell your daughters that they are special—that their bodies are prizes that should only be given to someone worthy (namely, their spouse)—then be ready to tell your sons the same. If you will tell your sons “just be safe, use condoms every time and get tested often,” then be ready to give your daughters the same advice. ‘Cause trust me, if or when they decide to have sex, it’s going to happen with or without your guidance.
You too fellas.
Oh, and this is what the real chastity belts were like. None of this "iron panties" business.
this is awesome.