The Obsolete "Double Standard"
In spite of the biological facts, women in our Western culture have, for a very long time, suffered from psychosocial restrictions that denied them the full expression of their sexuality. It was generally assumed that men were possessed by a powerful "sex drive" while women were considered incapable of strong sexual feelings. As a consequence, men were encouraged to enjoy their sexual capacities; women were taught to regard sexual desire as base, improper, and degrading. This so-called double standard for male and female sexual behavior has had some very unfortunate consequences, not only for the moral health of society but also for the physical well-being of the individual woman.