Amen to that!!!!!!!
But tbh, more so often in a lot if works, the FL also jumps to conclusion and believe the rumors. They will either act to scared of the ml and try to hide and plot escape.
Sometimes they will also be the first one to judge
My take wasn't that the FL DOESN'T judge, but that her treatment of the ML won't extend to being mean as hell. While if it's the other way around, the ML would treat the FL like she personally murdered his mother or something.
partly bc of misogyny. if a woman is a bad person then you can treat her as badly as you want, if a man is a bad person, then as a woman, you'll be scared for your safety bc you'll be the first victim. bc most of the time, the woman's bad reputation comes from being spoiled, promiscuous or mean, while the man's bad reputation comes from being a monster on the battlefield, treating his subordinates like trash and destroying other ppl's lives by firing or killing them or their family members. it's not the same weight.
Why is it that in most stories if there are bad rumours about the fl, the ml will be the most insufferable person towards her. But if there are rumours about the ml, the fl will just be a bit skeptical and maybe hurt.