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Summary
Misogyny uses double standards to trap women in unfair expectations and creates situations where they are often criticised no matter what they do. These contradictions are used to control rather than to support equality.
Misogynistic beliefs are based on contradictory logic, revealing deep flaws in their structure. These inconsistencies expose what gender-based discrimination is and highlight the irrational nature of sexist attitudes.
The professional world demonstrates this broken logic through persistent double standards. Organisations will demand that women display leadership qualities, then penalise them for the same traits praised in male colleagues. A woman who speaks up in meetings faces labels like “domineering,” while her male counterpart is assertive. When women negotiate salaries, a behaviour encouraged in men, research shows they face social and professional backlash. This creates an impossible situation where women must somehow lead without showing leadership traits.
The expectations around family and career expose another layer of contradictory thinking. Society demands women excel professionally while simultaneously insisting they prioritise family above all else. When women focus on careers, critics attack them for neglecting family duties. When they prioritise family, the same voices mock them for lacking ambition. Men face no such divided expectations; their career success draws praise regardless of family involvement. Catalyst’s research shows this double standard contributes to women holding only 31%, the highest recorded number of senior leadership positions despite making up nearly half the workforce.
Physical appearance requirements follow similar illogical patterns. Women must appear attractive but not too attractive, professional but not masculine, feminine but not provocative. They spend thousands more annually on appearance-related expenses while being shamed for vanity. The beauty industry profits from these impossible standards, creating a cycle where women chase ever-moving targets of acceptability.
The sexual double standard perhaps best illustrates this flawed thinking. Traditional views demand women remain sexually pure while simultaneously expecting them to be sexually available. This paradox creates scenarios where women face judgment regardless of their choices. The same behaviour praised as masculine prowess becomes grounds for social ostracisation when exhibited by women.
These contradictions reveal misogyny as a system designed to maintain control rather than follow logical principles. By creating impossible standards and shifting goalposts, it ensures women always fall short of accepted norms. Understanding these inconsistencies is one of our major works at Naija Feminists Media (NFM). With improved knowledge of belief systems that support gender-based discrimination, we can better challenge it and create a society toward a more rational, equitable treatment of women.
