I woke up with a start, heart racing and a sudden wave of nausea washing over me. It had been a nightmare, but the words still echoed in my mind: “Girl open leg get everything, guy open kena say lan pa smelly.” As a man, these words felt like a punch to the gut. It was a clear example of a double standard, one that I was all too familiar with.
Growing up, I was exposed to countless examples of sexism and double standards that were imposed on both men and women. I remember hearing that women should “know their place” and be seen, not heard. On the other hand, men were expected to be strong and stoic, to take charge and never show emotion. It was drilled into my head that men should never cry, that it was a sign of weakness.
At the time, I accepted these double standards as the norm, not realizing how deeply they affected me. But now, as an adult, I can no longer ignore the reality that these double standards are damaging to both men and women.
The phrase “girl open leg get everything, guy open kena say lan pa smelly” is a perfect example. It implies that a woman must be willing to give up her virtue in order to get what she wants, while a man must stay silent in order to maintain his honor. This type of thinking reinforces the idea that women are merely objects for men to use and discard.
It is completely unfair and demeaning to both genders. It implies that women are only valuable when they are giving something to a man, while men have no value unless they are silent and obedient. This type of thinking is outdated and dangerous, and it has no place in our society.
What’s more, this type of thinking is damaging to both men and women. It perpetuates the idea that men should be stoic and emotionless, while women should be passive and compliant. This type of thinking can lead to mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, as well as an inability to form meaningful relationships.
The phrase “girl open leg get everything, guy open kena say lan pa smelly” is an example of a double standard that needs to be addressed. We need to recognize that these types of statements are wrong and hurtful, and we need to do our part to end them.
We need to start by teaching our children that no one should be judged by their gender. We need to teach them to respect everyone, regardless of gender. We also need to teach them to speak up when they hear someone making a statement like “girl open leg get everything, guy open kena say lan pa smelly”.