While I do think it's true that many female characters are held to a higher standard, I just don't understand the redirection. If part of someone's argument is doing that then why not point that out? If a female character is criticized for breaking the rules while a male character is praised (something I've seen happen that I don't agree with) well…why not point that out? That's always been what I do: say, well, why doesn't X doing this bother you?
At the same time, though, there's cases where I do think the criticism is completely legitimate -- where it isn't a double standard. In one of my fandoms, for example, character X is male and the main character -- he's also established as a rule breaker and frequently doesn't listen. Character Y is female and is primarily a love interest. There's a scene of her behaving unprofessionally that I criticize her for. And people will tell me it's a double standard that I ignore character X's behavior. But I don't see WHY. Character X is ESTABLISHED as a rule-breaker. It's a character trait and he gets CHEWED OUT for it. While Character Y is portrayed as a consummate professional and is BACKED by her boss even though what she does (discussing her relationship on the job) is really, really unprofessional given the situation they're in. In character X's case it makes sense. In character Y's case it doesn't, she isn't reprimanded, and it's just another scene of her discussing her romantic relationship.
OP
At the same time, though, there's cases where I do think the criticism is completely legitimate -- where it isn't a double standard. In one of my fandoms, for example, character X is male and the main character -- he's also established as a rule breaker and frequently doesn't listen. Character Y is female and is primarily a love interest. There's a scene of her behaving unprofessionally that I criticize her for. And people will tell me it's a double standard that I ignore character X's behavior. But I don't see WHY. Character X is ESTABLISHED as a rule-breaker. It's a character trait and he gets CHEWED OUT for it. While Character Y is portrayed as a consummate professional and is BACKED by her boss even though what she does (discussing her relationship on the job) is really, really unprofessional given the situation they're in. In character X's case it makes sense. In character Y's case it doesn't, she isn't reprimanded, and it's just another scene of her discussing her romantic relationship.