It is not very complicated. it is something that has been developed till today since the old times. Women have been treated almost always differently than man since the old times, at least from the time of civilization. it is no wonder that it has not disappeared. It should be mostly because of the lack of birth control in the old times, which is a quiet recent thing. The mother of the offspring is always clear but the problem is the father. Unknown father or he doubt (not being sure if the biological father is the considered father), it is not hard to imagine which problems/conflicts it can cause. the sexual freedom of women has always been limited by the motherhood. with the effective birth control methods, women have somewhat earned their freedom but since over years moral and social values and culture have been structured over this handicap, it is not easy to get rid of the rooted discrimination. 

Well, other things can be said but this is how I see it.

Here is a provocative answer to your question, but do not attack me, just found it while surfing...

Busyb - I think times are changing now and a woman who has slept with a considerably large number of partners is not labelled anymore. I mean, she still might be labelled by men who fear strong, independent women who are not afraid to take care of their needs, but the society will not ostracise her (unless she livesin one of this easter countries where they stone people as a hobby). Most women I know have had a number of partners, especially those who didn´t marry young. And I don´t know even one woman who´d be a virgin on the day of her wedding.

I think a lot of women weren´t virgins when they got married 50 years ago either, but back than they lied about it Do you know how many giant "5 months babies" there are out there People got married when they found out a woman was pregnant, and I doubt they all did the virgin Mary-thing

hahaha that´s true

It is also true for Poland to be hypocritical about abortion (it is legal only if mother´s life is threatened, foetus has a terminal disease or if thepregnancy is a result of rape). Most people protesting against it are old people, most of whom had their fertility years back in the old commie days when abortion was legal. So, a huge percentage of women protesting against abortion had it themselves and now are on the anti-abortion, catholic side . We´ve a saying in Poland that point of view depends on the point where you´re sitting.

I think you can still be anti abortion and still support a womans right to have one.  I think the idea is that people want to push their views on others who may not feel the same way and that is wrong. 

I am totally against abortion (so I would never have one).  However, I would hate it if someone elses opinion was forced upon me.  The fact of the matter is women should have freedom to choose their own path, their own destiny.  It shouldn´t be shoved in their face or assumed that all women should feel a certain way about child bearing.  Men are free to walk away from a pregnancy (and they do it often in my culture) Why shouldn´t women have the same freedom? 

In any case, this young girl whether by culture or by ignorance, will never have any choices in her life.  She will forever be caught up in her circumstances and her daughter will probably share the same fate and it will go on and on and on....

It´s just sad....so very sad.

 Yes, it does seem unfair. The fact of the matter is though that it is the female who is left holding the bag, so to speak. The female anatomy is more hospitable and receptive to germs than the male anatomy is. Didn´t you know HIV is growing more in the female population than the male. The moist humid temperature is perfect for growing things other than babies.

So IOW...females are more vulnerable than males...like it or not.

I don´t agree with women being more vulnerable to diseases related to sex, to pregnancy yes. No, it´s not because I´m a feministic/hippy/complainer But there is risk for men too in being more sexually active. For example, the risk of prostate cancer goes up as men are more sexually active. Also, having good sex in a good ADULT relationship has large positive effects on both men and women. Both mentally and physically.

However you twist or turn it, there is a different standard towards both men and women that doesn´t have a base in the physical differences between the two. Perhaps it has something to do with men being scared that their wives would have babies that were from another dude, in pre-DNA times.

But the scary thing here is that two kids are being thrown into parenthood, when they should still be running around the playground of school, playing tag instead of doing the nasty in a bedroom. Bringing me back to women being more vulnerable in pregancy...if a girl has babies at such a young age, her body isn´t ready for it yet. Inside the baby can damage the girl in such a way that she can (for example) become incontinent.

Labelling stems from the stereotypes and upbringing. If you come from a community where males have more power than females, you´ll think it´s normal that men get away with more. It´s absurd to try to justify it with pseudoscientific evidence. It´s all in what we were brought up to believe.

As a general rule women are more resistant and have a longer life expectancy, so maybe, at the end of the day, they´re not as weak a sex as some would like to believe

I agree with a lot of comments on here, and I must admit, the comment about the master key that opens all locks made me laugh (though I don´t agree with life in that way).

And I suppose it does go back years and years where women were treated unfairly. From being burned/drowned etc as witches (though some men were but not nearly as much as women). From women not allowed to wear the trousers, to not being allowed to vote, or not allowed to go down certain career paths, or even being paid differently in a job. It really is a man´s world when you think about it. And I´m not being feminist by making this comment, it´s just the way it is. Which is a shame, because when given a chance when being told you can´t do something, that person (in general) seems to shine brighter at it.

Busyb - I hope you don´t mind me asking, but why are you saying you´re not being a feminist as if it was something bad? I´ve often wondered why women are so afraid of this word. According to the Oxford Dictionary, feminism is:

the advocacy of women´s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes

So, the way I see it, if you believe that men and women should have equal rights, you are a feminist. It Does not require you to be a member of the movement portrayed as a bunch of bald-shaven lesbians hating or wanting to castrate men. I love men and at the same time I think they´re no better or worse than women as a general rule. Hence I call myself a feminist.