April 5, 2007
Given our class discussion about double standards (and to refresh your memory, here are “Double Standard: Stereotypes that Just Won’t Go Away” and the Wikipedia entry), I think it’s safe to assume that this is a topic in which we’re all interested. So let’s get things going here.
By 10pm Wednesday, please write a comment on this entry (using your first name only) in which you address, in about a paragraph, how a specific example from one of the articles relates to a specific example from The Odyssey. If you’re not the first person to leave a comment, you should respond, in your comment, to what one of your classmates wrote.
April 6th, 2007 at 8:29 pm
These two articles about double standards were very interesting, but they were also very true. As we said in class, the “stud vs. slut” idea reminded me a little bit about how our school is, but it also reminded me of the Odyssey. This double standard fits the Odyssey because men during the time of the Trojan War were allowed to sleep with as many girls as they wanted even if he was married and it was considered ok, while if a woman was sleeping with a bunch of men then she would be considered dirty and a slut. Right in the beggining of the book Odysseus is with Calypso getting it on every night and Penelope is stuck at home with all the crazy love crazed suitors wanting to marry her and she really doesn’t know what to do. If she were to marry one of these men and Odysseus were to come back, then she would be considered a slut and a whore for cheating on her husband.
April 7th, 2007 at 7:19 am
I agree with Basel. I have always thought about these double standards, but all his time, I thought I was just going insane. In the past, I have noticed double standards of race, and gender. In the Odyssey, we see some gender related double standards. Penelope is still in her home town, surounded by mobs, and being pressured to chose a new husband, but never sleeps with any of them, because in society, it is not ok for a woman to sleep with men. While back in the island where Odysseus is help captive, Calypso falls in love with Odysseus. It is ok for males to sleep with another woman.
I don’t think that Homer was ever trying to portray double standards. It was simply how it was back then, and people overlooked it.
April 7th, 2007 at 8:57 am
By reading more of the odessey, I think that Homer actually was trying to portray the concept of double standards
April 7th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
At Greenwich High, there is a stereotype where if a girl has slept with one or more men, she is concidered a trashy slut. I do not believe that if a man has slept with more than one girl, he is experienced and desirable. The guys that have had sex many more times than the average student have been concidered pimps or more macho by his fellow males for hundreds of years. In the Odyssey, Odysseus and his female companions are a good example of the double standard. Odysseus found himself on the Isle of Ogygia after being tossed at sea for nine days. The pure godess Calypso found Odysseus on the beach and sheltered him; she would finaly have some company. Calypso grew to love Odysseus dearly, and they made love often. Odysseus thought of Calypso as a slut and could use her for sex, but he missed his wife, Penelope, and their son. Although Odysseus has had sex with various woman, Homer focuses on the woman’s desire for sex.
April 7th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
I agree with Lizzy’s comments about stereotypes at Greenwich High School. About the class discussion that we had in class, I believe that double standards are a difficult issue to deal with. The way I see it though is that there needs to be some sort of barrier between genders and other groups. Noel brought up a good point about how Odyssues can go out and have a good time on the island, while his wife has to wait for him to come home and that is what is expected of her. I believe that Homer does do a good job of subtling bringing up the points about double standards, and they will continue to show up in the book as we keep reading it.
April 7th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
In the Odyssey the double standard is brought up frequently. It was quite funny my mom actually commented on her friend’s own double standard. Her friend was saying how her daughter, *Jen is coming home from college with her boyfriend and she isn’t sure whether or not she is going to let them share a bedroom. But when the same mothers’ son is home from college him and his girlfriend are allowed to sleep together. My mom said, “what a double standard.” And her friend replied, “yeah, but it’s mine so I am allowed to have it.” The only example I can think of as yet in the Odyssey is the one Lizzy and Noel have discussed. I can tell however, that there will be more as the book continues.
April 8th, 2007 at 7:10 am
The most recent example of double standards that I have come across in the Odyssey is in book 6. After Athena has made Odysseus even more desirable and what not, he meets Nausicaa, who encourages him to bathe and gives him clothes to wear. They go about town together, and although nothing is said or done about Odysseus having relations outside of his marriage, Nausicaa is heavily criticized by her peers because of her pre-marital relations with this strange man. “I’d find fault with a girl who carried on that way, flouting her parents’ wishes - father, mother, still alive - consorting with men before she’d tied the knot in public” (6; 315). I agree with Lizzy and Scott about the connection to Greenwich High School, but this particular example of premarital sex extends into more traditional families and their traditions all over.
April 8th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Off of the top of my head, I can’t think of another example of a double standard in the book besides the basic one that everyone has been talking about (lizzie, noel.. the entire class..). Men can sleep with all the girls that they want and it’s a positive, where as if a girl would to do that she would be called a slut. I think this example has grabbed everyones attention for two reasons, one, it’s something that everyone can relate to since it is still going on today, and two, we get to say skank and slut without getting in trouble. Because our class has the maturity level of a ten year old, i think eveyone is really going to enjoy The Odessey .
April 8th, 2007 at 2:43 pm
The most common double standard as discussed in the both the articles, and in the Odessey, is the idea Basel brought up about “studs vs. sluts.” This idea is present everwhere, and is also present in the Odessey. For example, while Odysseus is stuck on the island with the nymph, he has sex all the time, but this is accepted. The most surprising part to me, was when Odysseus mentions to the nymph that he misses his wife and family, but proceeds to have sex with her anyway. I think it’s unfair that if girls were to do the same things as boys, they would get rejected and ridiculed for it. Even though I believe this, I find myself following and agreeing with the double standard. As Lula mentioned in class, I feel like I’ve been brainwashed, and can’t think outside the idea of the existing double standard.
April 8th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Whatever it takes, Captain. Whatever it takes.
April 8th, 2007 at 3:20 pm
I agree with all of the comments listed above. The huge double standard between women and men, “Studs Vs. Sluts” not only is present in highschools, but everyware. The articles that we read were true in saying that if a women were to sleep with a lot of men, they would be percieved as slutty, trashy, a hooker, and of very low class in society. However, when a man sleeps with a lot of women, it only increases his popularity and social points with his friends. This double standard also holds true in the Odyssey, for example when Odysseus is stranded on the island, he is still able to sleep with the nymph without many problems. In their society for a man to cheat on his wife wasn’t considered a bad thing. However, if his wife slept with any of the suitors that are constantly around, she would be commiting a huge offense, and may be punished with death. The concept of ‘double standards’ exist in all types of societies, and im sure that their are present in other novels, not just the Odyssey.
April 8th, 2007 at 4:11 pm
I think the most prominent example of a double standard used so far in the Odyssey has been the one between Odysseus and his wife. While she has stayed true to her husband for over 18 years, Odysseus had a really really sexual relationship with Calypso on that island. At points, Homer definately emphasizes the different expectations between men and women in relationships. It’s interesting because we definately have those distinctions today. If a girl cheats on her boyfriend then she’s a slut, but if a guy cheats on his girlfriend, people feel bad for the girls involved but that’s typically it. But the examples of double standard defiantely go both ways. I’ve noticed that a lot of the time a girl can get away with hitting or degrading her boyfriend, but he would never be able to do it back without getting a hard time.
April 8th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
I agree with everyone that thought the most comparable part of The Odyssey to the article, was the aspect of the book of Odysseus sleeping with Calypso. Odysseus, being brave, clever, respected, but most importantly, a man, was allowed to do this type of thing. Penelope never would ahve been allowed to have done this. She, instead, is trapped inside of her own house being hit on by young men the same age as her son. As a prisoner in her own household, Penelope is miserable and has no choice but to wait for Odysseus, before she can sleep with anybody, if she wishes to keep her respect. The double-standard here, and that was also in the article, is unfair to women. Unfortunately, a solution for this is hard to come by.
April 8th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
The two articles we read are realllly interesting, and definitely relate to the Odyssey. I think this example has already been mentioned, but the way that Odysseus was able to sleep with the nymph Calypso even though his wife could not do anything with the suitors is a double standard. I feel like this type of situation happens today, in that the wife of a soldier is at home waiting for him, resisting any temptation to cheat on him. The husband at war, on the other hand, can cheat and have sex with other women (it’s been known that soldiers often do this overseas). Once again, this is a complete double standard and it is interesting houw this hasn’t changed at all from the time hunddreds of years ago when Homer wrote the Odyssey.
April 8th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
I agree with what has been said above. One could argue that Odysseus’ society was radically different from ours, which it was, but one element that seems to have remained constant is the double standard between men and women regarding sex. I’ll save everyone the trouble of rereading what has been written 13 times.
In the Odyssey, we are immediately shown a double standard by taking a look at Odysseus’ situation. He’s trapped on an island with a beautiful goddess, Calypso, and although he ‘wants to go home’, it is evident from the text that he’s not necessarily having a bad time. And that’s okay. Women are constantly treated as objects, or posessions, while the male is free to do what he pleases with the relationship. Obviously, a woman can divorce today, and stand up for herself, but the same principle stands in a social context. If a girl sleeps around, she’s a slut. It’s as simple as that.
April 8th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Much like the rest of the class, I find the “stud vs slut” double standard to be the most relative to the Odyssey. Throughout the book so far, Odysseus has slept with women (other than his wife) with not a care for any possible consequences for his behavior. His wife on the other hand, has remained true to her husband (whom is considered dead), despite her being pestered by suitors from all across the land. Odysseus is allowed this because of the double standard that we discussed. As a man, he is rewarded for his sexual prowess, wheras a woman, were she to imitate this behavior, would be considered to be little more than a whore. Thus, the Odyssey embodies a double standard. However, the more interesting part is how the same standard exists in our present society. If men are to have multiple partners in todays society, they are considered with more respect. However, if women do this, then they (as Lizzy put it) are considered to be a “trashy slut”. That this standard has lasted since the days of Homer is incredible, though unfortunate.
April 8th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
Arielle Angel wrote in her article for the Krop High School newspaper, “It is not as common for men to find sexual appeal in older women.” This is true, but it is not entirely uncommon. In The Odyssey, Penelope is a good example of its existence. Penelope is one of the older female characters in The Odyssey and all of the young suitors are hanging around her house waiting for her to marry one of them. Many of the suitors may be attracted by her wealth, but she is beautiful and they are attracted to her nonetheless.
I can relate to Alec’s interpretation of Basel’s idea about “studs vs. sluts”. It is okay for Odysseus to have sex when he is away from his home, but Penelope would be ridiculed if she went about having sex other men when she doesn’t know if Odysseus is dead or not. Both Penelope and Odysseus demonstrate the double standard. Penelope resists affairs, Odysseus does not, and all is okay.
April 8th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
Well, our class discussion on thursday was very interesting and it did bring about major revelations of double-standards. The discussion showed us what happened when people in the class were given two scenarios with only one thing changed, gender. But double-standards do not just reside in gender alone, although this is the only way it relates to the Odyssey. The way we mainly talked about in class was the fact that Odysseus has sex witha nymph repetatively while his wife, cannot ever even be touched by a suitor or talk to them in her room, because she would be considered a whore. In class we talked about how it parallels to life and how if a girl hooks up with a bunch of guys she is considered a whore and if a guy hooks up with a bunch of girls hes considered awesome. Otherwise I cannot find another example in the book so I cannot relate the book to anything else. The two articles we read were great though especially the second one. I felt we had a very interesting and fun class on Thursday and hope we will have another class with that same type of structure.
April 8th, 2007 at 7:50 pm
The wikipedia article about double standards had a very short paragraph that mentioned double standards that are applied to only the elite, while harsher behavior standards are applied to the masses. One example I can think of this is when Nausicaa does not want to walk into town with Odysseus because people will think she is having pre marital relations with him. However, I bet if someone who is not as high on the social hierarchy did that, spectators would probably brush it off, saying “oh, well he/she is a homeless vagabond, of course they would do that.” This encounter would probably just add more to their bad reputation and show that all lower class people do this. People in the public eye have to work extra hard on their appearance because anything they do wrong will be held against them. A high school dropout who goes to rehab is of much less significance than Lindsay Lohan going to rehab, because celebrities and stars are supposed to be perfect. When we find out they aren’t, it becomes front page news.
April 8th, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I really enjoyed the two articles that we read in class because they are so modern and relate so closely to our generation. At first, i thought that there were just going to be some random articles that you thought were fun, but i really liked the fact that they were able to tie back to the odyssey. The “slut vs. stud” idea is something so common in your society that it kinda surprised me to find in the Odyssey. Like you said that day in class, “Our society has come so far.” And then I said “NOT” to truly emphazise the point. It really makes you think about our society back then and now. It is kind of disturbing to think that if our society has been able to exist with this ideal for so long and almost nothing has change, that this ideal will co-exist with human beings eternally. That also stricts the question of what is stopping this change? Because it surely isnt the fact that people are not trying. This is such an interesting topic that i am sure we could all keep talking about and i wish we could be able to, because even though blogs are good an all, they dont beat an in class discussion.
April 8th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
One double standard that is present in modern society, the “stud” versus the “slut” is mentioned in the High School newspaper article that we read and discussed in class. This double standard is also mentioned in The Odyssey, where Odysseus can get away with sleeping with a nymph but his wife, Penelope, will be put in a lot of trouble if she just looks lustfully at one of the suitors. This idea has been metioned by many classmates above and I feel that someone who sleeps with multiple people should be viewed the same way in society regardless of gender. We need to rid ourselves of gender double standards (other than ones that directly relate to restrooms and athletics).
April 8th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
After reading most of the comments that people have left, i fully agree with everything. All of this double standard talk is really getting me frusturated. After reading those two articles in class, it really got me interested into this hot topic. I get so annoyed about the fact that girls are considered sluts if they were to get with more than one guy. I mean if a guy can do it and get away with it, why can’t a girl. I’ve never really thought about this issue until i started reading The Odyssey. I mean i knew that it was true and that it happens everyday, but reading the Odyssey really sparked everything for me. In the book, Odysseus is able to have sex with Calypso when stuck on the island with her and now have any major consequences for it, while Penelope is back at the palace with quite a few suitors and hasn’t once been involved with any of them. In one of the articles, we brought up the idea of how a man wants a woman to be pure by not having experience with another guy, but then some guys would tend to think of them as prude, so it’s so unfair that the girl can never win. It’s crazy how society has such a big impact on everyone.
April 9th, 2007 at 7:24 am
I think it’s interesting how society has always had such a large effect on the individual. Almost nobody does anything anymore without considering what others are going to think of them, but I think the different standards that are being set for men and women today are completely unfair. I don’t understand how a woman would be attracted to a man who has a reputation for sleeping with a bunch of women and I’d assume that a man wouldn’t want that in a partner either. And yet, as portrayed in “The Odyssey”, men have much for freewill when it comes to how much is too much. After reading the end of book 5, I couldn’t help but feel bad for Penelope as she was refraining from cheating on her husband and yet Odysseus could care less while he’s off with the nymph, Calypso. It also seems like there’s not such an ideal model of a man as there is a woman. As Kim Walsh-Childers, professor of journalism at the University of Florida says, “There is a broader range of what is accepted to be a sex symbol as a male.” Overall, men seem to monopolize sexual morals in our society today and that definitely needs to change.
April 9th, 2007 at 10:14 am
I agree with everyone else who related the Odyssey to the modern day stud vs. slut double standard. However, the double standards back then went for things even simpler than “hooking up”. As JJ said, the episode in book 6 where Naucisaa is afraid to even walk through town with Odysseus because of the rumors that would start. On the other hand, Odysseyus didn’t see anything wrong with them walking together.
April 9th, 2007 at 10:21 am
-read this one, not the one above-
I agree with everyone else who related the Odyssey to the modern day stud vs. slut double standard. However, the double standards back then went for things even simpler than “hooking up”. As JJ said, the episode in book 6 where Naucisaa is afraid to even walk through town with Odysseus because of the rumors that would start, while Odysseus didn’t see anything wrong with them walking together, show how back then, double standards for men and women aplied to things as smiple as two “singles” walking together in public.
April 9th, 2007 at 5:15 pm
After reading the wall i have to agree with everyone else. But i believe that the gap is much bigger than the ability for men to have an affair. Men are allowed to have a life in this society where as women are confined to live and serve under her husband. In this society Penelopy is unable to talk to the suitors without being accused of flurting. I found this society to be the farthest extremity to the ’studs vs. sluts’ article that we read. I also think that the oddessy is a testimate to how far humans have come since this time, but along with the many other bloggers i believe that we need to do more.
April 9th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
I thought that the assignment we did in class about the double standards was very interesting. They had been brought to my attention before, in another class, but i can’t remember which class it was now. I think that the one that we spent most time talking about (girls being sluts vs, boys being pimps) is particullary relevent to our lives at Greenwich High School. Everyday we make those assumptions and call girls names who “sleep around”, while the boys congradulate the guy who got with the most girls at the party. I dont understand it, and its not fair, but it has been around forever, and will probably never go away. I agree with the example that Joe used with Odysseus and Naucisaa, because even back then girls were constantly having to be concious of who they were seen with or who they were walkin with for fear that a new rumor would start about them. Where as Odysseus wanted to be seen walkin with Naucisaa and talking to her because it would make men look at him and he would get a lot of credit for it. This double standard cannot be changed, it is just the way life always have been and always will be.
April 9th, 2007 at 8:12 pm
Double standards are very common and the article portrays them very well. In the Odyssey, Odysseus sleeps with women such as Calypso and is seen as a “stud”. But if Penelope were to sleep with one of the suitors, she would be considered as a “slut”. The article explains this very well about the male and female contreversies.
April 10th, 2007 at 3:16 pm
The stud vs slut double standard is definitely seen at ghs as well as in the odyssey. Of course we see it when odysseus disrepectfully sleeps with Calypso and thinks nothing of it, while Penelope is dutifully waiting for her husband to return. She has more opportunities to cheat on Odysseus because of all the men that want her. She is expected to be loyal, but it is okay for odysseus to cheat. This double standard could also been seen as women being more loyal and stronger willed in a relationship. Not in the sense that she isn’t allowed to cheat, but that the woman is less likely to cheat, leading to this double standard. On the other side, is that men aren’t strong enough to remain loyal. I’m not saying that i believe this-it’s just a spin on the double standard. We also see the double standard not only with odysseus and penelope but with the gods and goddess’. Zeus has had many sexual relations with female mortals, but the goddess’ are not allowed to.
April 10th, 2007 at 4:35 pm
I agree with what everyone has been saying about the double standards, and what Lizzy and Scott said about our high school. I think that double standards are ridiculous and unfair, but we can’t deny that they aren’t there. I also agree with Lucy when she says that she feels badly for Penelope that Odysseus is not even caring about her when he is off with Calypso. However when Penelope has an attraction with the suitors she gets looked at badly, which relates to a “slut” at the high school who has hooked up with multiple guys. Heather also brings up a good point about girls being labeled as either prude or a slut. Either way they do not have an advantage when being compared with men in society.
April 10th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
After reading everyone’s writing on the wall I must agree with them. I like how joe refers to Naucisaa and Odysseus when they walk in town. It reminds me of how our student body at our school is like. If you are around a close friend all the time in school and outside of school they are at a party and they are just talking the whole time, rumours spread. People will say they “got with” each other or that they like each other or even that they go out. If a girl got with a guy at a party she will be classified as a slut that she has no class and will have a bad reputation, whereas if the guy got with the girl, he will be classified as a pimp and that he has game. This shows that the society in our school is very similar to the society in The Odyssey.
April 10th, 2007 at 8:14 pm
Well Matt, I disagree with your statement. I think that a girl and a guy ‘getting with’ eachother would not be considered slutty for the girl. The issue is not that the girl does it, its the amount of guys that the girl ‘gets with.’ If a girl got with 10 guys, in comparison to a guy getting wiht 10 girls, the guy would be THE MAN and the girl would be THE SLUT. The issue is that a guy can ‘hook-up’ with as many girls as he wants, while the girl cannnot. I think that this is rediculous. The worst part is that the girls are contributing to this double standard. The girls are most likely the ones sitting there calling the girl a slut, and secretly thinking to themselves how they want to ‘get’ with that guy. ITS REDICULOUS
April 10th, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Like everyone else has said, i agree with all of the comments above. We all realize that we are making thses assumptions about people and judging them with a double standard, but we probably arent going to do anything about it. Im not saying that there is really abything we can do either, because people all over the world have been applying the same double standard for thousands of years, since Odysseus cam along, and probably even before him. In the book, not only is odysseus not being punished by the gods for his cheating with calypso, but if oter mortals or gods found out about his behavior, he would probably seen as a pimp, or the achean equivalent. Meanwhile, penelope is sitting in her room crying for his return all the while knowing that if she did even kiss one of her suitors, she would be severely punished.
This is still true today, and it will probably still eb true in another thousand years when high school students of 2107 are discussing this same topic.
April 10th, 2007 at 9:16 pm
It surprises me how many double standards that existed in Ancient Greece are still present today, the most common being the “studs vs. sluts” example. Double standards create a huge impact on society, making it okay for men to cheat on their wives and be called “studs” while women doing the same thing are named “sluts.” In The Odyssey, when Nausicaa explained to Odysseus how to get to the palace, she replied that he would have to walk there himself because otherwise “…they’ll scoff…just think of the scandal that would face me then.” Then Nausicaa went on to admit that even she herself would react similarly if she saw an unmarried girl with an attractive stranger. It is especially important for Nausicaa to fear being “scoffed” at for she is a Princess and will probably be publicly humiliated, ruining her reputation in the process. However, in the end, she did not have to worry because after hearing of Odysseus’s struggles, King Alcinous realized what a great guy his guest was and suggested that Odysseus marry Nausicaa. Even when King Alcinous heard of Odysseus’s affair with Calypso, it did not affect his offer to Odysseus, whereas if it were a woman who had the affair, she would be scorned.
April 11th, 2007 at 5:23 pm
I was really shocked when we started discussing the double standards because I’ve never noticed they were there. It’s just something that we take for granted until it is actually pointed out. I totally agree with Anna C that it absurd that these double standards exist today, in a world that is supposed to be getting more and more equal for everyone. Also, the fact that many girls contribute to the double standard of “sluts and studs” is very angering. I also agree with Lucy in that it’s not fair that there is no set standard of looking good for a guy. Men like Jack Black are being considered sexy, while women try to be extra skinny to get noticed. It’s just not fair!!
April 11th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
I think the idea of “stud vs. sluts” make sense. I could understand why it may be upsetting to some girls, but it is relevant in everyday life and in the Odyssey. If you look at a typical “slut” you see that she is basically giving up her body. She’s barely wearing any clothes, and she tries to impress guys by sleeping with them. On the other hand, people look up to “Studs” because they are simply dressed nice and talk smoothly.
April 11th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
I have never noticed that there were so many double standards. People tell me that some kids get more time finishing tests than others during Resource Room. I wish I had more time to finish my tests… By discussing this whole double standard things I have noticed that they are all around us. In the Odyssey we discussed in class about how it was ok for males to have relationships with multiple women, but how the wife had to stay loyal to her husband. This is a good example of a double standard in modern society. In school, if a girl has a lot of boyfriends and she breaks up with them every week, people hate her and disrespect her. However, if a guy does it all the guys are proud of him. This is just one of the thousands double standards that exist today
April 11th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
In my opinion, double standards are perhaps the most obnoxious “generalizations” of sorts. Inevitably, double standards are all around us. I agree with Lizzy, on how the double standards for men and women exist in Greenwich High School today. True, the standards have significantly decreased since ancient Greek times, and we have come a long way. However, it is quite evident that a girl who has had multiple sexual partners is less desirable, on the count that she is considereed to be “dirty” or a “slut.” And yet, girls who are virgins and “pure” are also not desirable for they are seen as prudish, and not experienced. Therefore, it is true that women can never win.
In The Odyssey, double standards are portrayed fairly well. For instance, Calypso, the “lustrous” goddess is told by Hermes that she must let go of Odysseus, and allow him to venture off to Ithaca. Obviously, Calypso is upset with the fact that she must let go of Odysseus, but she also realizes that if she were to be a man, and Odysseus a woman, she would not be treated as a slut, or be frowned upon. In fact, back then, the ideal woman was chaste, pure, and classically beautiful. They were not at all meant to have experience sex, especially with multiple men. Men on the other hand, were allowed to have multiple lovers, for it was considered to be the norm. This whole concept of being pure and chaste is absolutely preposterous. Yes, a woman has her choice of whether to have sex or not, but they should not be prevented from having sex. Everyone, men and women alike, have that carnal desire and natural lust, no one is exempted from that.
April 11th, 2007 at 9:02 pm
The double standards in the Odyssey are mainly about the double standards taht females have to live up to. For example, Odysseus can go around having affairs and nothing gets said, but his wife cannot even talk to a man without being scrutinized. While this is unfair, I don’t think it is right to point out all of the double standards for women when there are just as many double standards for men. Men are expected to do most of the work in the family and take charge of such things such as government in ancient Greece. With so many different responsibilities for both sexes, it is unfair to even compare them. When you find one double standard, you will surely find another for the other side to balance it again.
April 12th, 2007 at 2:21 pm
I agree with my classmates that The Odessey does enforce this eoncept of the double standard as explained in the hand out given during class. Furthermore, I agree with my classmates that the double standard is very true although, not everyone accepts it. A good example of a character in The Odessey is Penelope. The lady Penelope in The Odessey is a great, beautiful, inteligent, and clever woman who all the suitors wished they could marry. She feels “like a prisoner” in her own household and rather stay in her room than go downstairs as stated in the book. This confirms the concept of the double standard because, if penelope decided to go out with one suitor than another just on dates she would be viewed as a women with no standards and respect for herself. This is very unfair and upseted me while I was reading the book and when we discussed it in class.
April 12th, 2007 at 4:24 pm
The example I chose to use was the example of the boy coming to the new school. Odysseus has been sleeping with Calypso for quite some time, and all the while Penelope is staying loyal at home. This relates to something I saw in a television programme the other day. In a show called “The Unit,” on CBS, had a girl and a boy, who were together, together, alone, in a room. The boy takes off the girls shirt and takes a picture. She is ashamed and in tears when he shows all of his friends the photo. This is an accurate representation of what real life is like. The boy would be seen as a figure to look up to, where as the girl would be seen as a slut. This isn’t right, but it is true nonetheless. Although unfortunate, this is how the world works.