Masculinity
as Justification for Infidelity and Sexual Promiscuity:
Double
Standards of Sexuality in Greek and Roman works
Social
expectations in the present day create a double standard: men who are sexually
promiscuous are often revered for their exploits, while women are ridiculed for
involvement with similar activities. These same double standards were present
hundreds of years ago. Evidence behind this claim is present in these Greek and
Roman works: The Odyssey, Agamemnon, and The Metamorphoses.
In particular, Odysseus of the epic poem The Odyssey is the strongest
example of “justified” male infidelity. In The Odyssey and other Greek
and Roman literary works, masculine infidelity is portrayed as justified, while
women are encouraged to remain faithful to their husbands without exception.
This double standard of sexuality is still present, and proves that these epics
have had a lasting impact on sociological concepts of gender-based sexual
promiscuity.
