The double standard

Gustavo Quintero
English 48B
March 6, 2008
Journal #37 Henry James



Quote:
"Winterbourne mentally accused it-very forgivingly-of a want of finish. He thought it very possible the Master Randolph's sister was a coquette"(James 394-395).



Summary:
After meeting Ms. Daisy Miller for the first time, Mr. Winterbourne, gives the reader his first impression of the young American woman.


Response.
I think it's very funny the double standard that immediately pops up;A woman that is deemed promiscuous is a slut(to put it bluntly) and a man is a player. In the 1800's as long as today I think that this analogy holds up very well. In the 1800's it was socially accepted, although not really talked about, for men to have extramarital affairs with one or multiple woman. To go even further you did not even have to be a married man you could be single and have multiple affairs. While if woman did such thing then a derogatory label was instantly put on them. You did not even have to go as far as having multiple affairs if what people thought you were wearing was risque then you were labeled promiscuous. As I said before this double standard still holds true today. The reason I brought this up is because I want to tie in this double standard to Mr. Winterbourne's first impression of Ms. Daisy Miller. After they have initially met he begins to check out Daisy. He notices her straightening out her ruffles, her "charming complexion", "immodest glance", "pretty eyes" and her perfectly direct and unshrinking glance. From just a few exchange of words and glances Mr. Winterbourne comes to the conclusion that daisy is a croquette. This is quite a bold statement especially considering that he is known to be promiscuous himself. Daisy has in no way thrown herself at him yet this is what he thinks. She even tries to ignore him when he made his first advancements. This kind of brings up the question who really is the slut? If you take this into modern time their is such a phrase as a man whore or man slut. Basically it means a man who gets around with a lot of woman but without the negative connotations. I find it funny how this double standard exists and how men can get away with being promiscuous. My guess would be that woman are still viewed as the virgin beauty that is not to engage in sex until she is married with a man.