"Katella The Huntress" and Double Standards (A Difficult Topic) -- Understanding A Common Hypocrisy

(Background music)

Introduction

Double standards are not as clear as they might be first seen to the naked eye, especially if that eye belongs to the one having said standards. In a simple definition, it's a concept that happens when one has a certain set of standards in one field, but does not in another field, which is theoretically identical, or of the same weight, as the initial field.

The problem in that is obvious: It leads to one's hypocrisy, whether or not said person will actually admit it. Hypocrites, or those who contradict themselves, may find it difficult to admit their hypocrisy, as that would entail that they are not as honest as others and as they see themselves as.

As a result, it'd be harder to trust a self-confessed hypocrite, then someone who is not a hypocrite (or someone who is regarded as such). The only way out of this condemnation, is atonement, but we'll get to that later.

Fictional Example

The following example might be disturbing for some of you, but as I said in an older article, I don't really like putting trigger warnings in my content. Just so you know, still, this subject might be disturbing, but I deem it necessary in order to better present the case of double standards.

There was a certain character in a cartoon from the 90's that was aimed at kids. Her name was "Katella the Intergalactic Huntress", and to sum up her character, she worked as a freelancer, capturing exotic creatures across Space, and sells them to the highest bidder. In the only episode where she appeared in, she was invited by a warlord named Dr. Robotnik, so he could tell her about a nemesis he'd like her to catch; A blue hedgehog that foils his plans.

For some absurd reason, Katella fell in love with the villain, and began... physically assault him. Punches, kicks, throws; In a way that is cute, because after all, that's how girls show love to boys, right? It appears she was so physically strong, no one in his fortress could've stopped her, not even Robotnik himself...

By the end of this disturbing episode, that for some reason is completely okay due to gender, she forced him to marry her, and likewise, no lackey of his could've done anything. The poor villain was eventually rescued by his mother, who was against the wedding, and the Huntress in question hated her guts so much, that it was the only way that the show's antagonist could've been saved... by a second physical abuser, in the form of his mother.

By now, one thing should be clear: Sexual assault is not okay regardless of gender; Forced marriage is not okay, regardless of gender. It is obvious, that if the genders were reversed in said episode, it would be very disturbing to be shown. Just to be clear, that show also contained educational messages at the end of each episode... One of them was against such assaults...

Recommendation

To further get my point across, I recommend watching the movie "Misery", an adaptation of Stephen King's novel by the same name. While men are usually stronger than women, that isn't always the case, especially when the man is handicapped, and the woman isn't. Being a handicap can leave anyone to exploitation. And although the protagonist in that tale wasn't r****, he could've been. Physical weakness can leave any of us vulnerable to exploitation of any kind. Hence why we should aim to be strong.