Equal Stadards for Sexuality

Deuteronomy 23:18 "No Israelite woman shall be a cult prostitute, nor shall any Israelite man be a cult prostitute" Plaut

- R. Sampson Raphael Hirsch noted that the prohibition from practice of prostitution was equal for men and women, Kadesh AND Kadesha. This is expanded to a discussion of the 'double standards' toward sexuality in our society.

With the changes in attitudes toward sexuality - increased visibility, more open discussions, improvement in equal rights for the sexes - has this double standard changed as it relates to sexual behavior?

Not really. Girls are still mostly looked down upon for promiscuity and boys are typically praised for sexual activity outside of marriage. It may be changing a bit but not overall.

This reminds me of an article I recently read about memes that seems to address this issue in its current status:
- "memes are the cultrual counterpart of genes"

example from - Link: more about memes

The Gender Idea Virus 
There is the male, and the female, idea virus. Associated with the male idea virus are stereotypical thoughts such as men are stronger, prefer the color blue, are more aggressive and ambitious and all the rest. We know them well. On the other hand, the female idea virus is that women are more submissive, like pink and pretty things, are gentler, more emotional and more family orientated. In modern times, many people have cured themselves of these 'traditional' idea viruses, and they've busted free of the narrow precepts of those particular memes. The remnants of those meme idea viruses live on in people unwilling to explore beyond them. And the gender idea virus itself seems to be fighting for its survival in pockets of resistance around the world. It is also perpetuated by marketers who know that there is money to be made from pitching to the infected.


I did a small survey after Torah Study of some teens and young adults on this topic and conclude that the 'equal standards' goal set by R. Hirsch just has not happened in our community today.