On a light note...
At the library (specifically, my school library), pink and white books are fairly commonplace. In fact, they are everywhere. On display tables, cases, and shelves--everywhere. Also books that are NOT, in fact, pink, but are tailored for "female" audiences. But I have yet to this day, observe any male (one very special exception) actually pick up one of those books and read it. Can we assume that males are just not interested in those types of books, while females are generally allowed to devour anything in the [school] library?Note: The aforementioned, before graduation, was a genius. His math and science skills were so amazing that it surely would not damage his reputation to be caught giggling with a chick flick during finals week. Surely.
That aside, why do we (females) even bother with chick flicks? They are easy, quick, simple reads. They provide some amusement and allow us to relax. They allow us insights into people of our generation. But wait--insights into both the thoughts of the stereotyped male/female student? Why are males not "allowed" to partake in consumer literature? Obviously, some males may not even by interested in overall chick flick genre. But that must mean that they are not allowed to read those, while chortling over Seventeen magazine is acceptable if the male is not reclusive and has female friends. Or is it?
On the other hand, females are completely allowed to read what males read. It would be cruel and unjustifiable to forbid females from reading "male" literature. Obviously classics such as Lady Chatterley's Lover or The Awakening were banned to prevent corruption of the minds of both genders. But today, popular, widely available romance novels are written for females. Females purchase them in bookstores. So do males rely on their "own" magazines for the same reasons?
All in all, does a double standard (in favor of females, of course) actually exist in today's world?
I understand where you're coming from, but I don't see the double standard. If a young man were reading a Gossip Girl novel, then it might be unusual because a) those books are awful, and b) they often talk about dating, popularity, and fashion, which boys don't often like. And I don't know how many girls walk into your library and pick up Muscle Car Weekly. But no one is saying that people can't read what they want. If a guy wants to read Gossip Girl, he can. If a girl likes Muscle Car Weekly (sorry, couldn't think of a stereotypically male publication), then she can read it. No one is specifically banning that.
~Violinstef