Study finds double standard in attitude to women’s drinking

Passion 09-07-2006

New research has confirmed the so-called “feminisation of binge drinking” – a trend that has seen increasing numbers of women drinking large quantities of alcohol in social situations in line with their modern status as independent with income-earning ability equal to or greater than their male counterparts.

And the research, by psychologist Dr Antonia Lyons, has also revealed that while men and women have a growing acceptance of such behaviour among their friends, they have completely different and contradictory attitudes towards excessive drinking by strangers, depending on whether it is a man or a woman they see getting drunk.

The double standards lead both men and women to label other drinkers with terms like “disgusting”, “embarassing”, and “slutty” if they are women, while publicly drunken men who are strangers are more likely to be regarded by both sexes as amusing or “a joke”.

Among their own circles of friends, men and women do not display the same prejudices, regarding heavy drinking as a pleasant and enjoyable leisure activity, with the only negative consequences things like hangovers, reckless behaviour and the financial cost, with little apparent regard for any health consequences.

BonitaPajarita

Very interesting information.

Times have changed and especially for women and the liberties and social acceptances they have.

Do you think this is happening because of the greater increase of womens roles in society with work, education, kids, etc?