The effects of a strong standing wave field on the absorption behaviour of a weak probe field are studied. An absorptive medium is assumed to consist of stationary two-level atoms with arbitrary decay and pumping scheme. The spectrum with a resonant saturator does not exhibit emissive behaviour as in the travelling wave cases. With a detuned saturator the spectrum closely resembles the corresponding three-level spectrum. These features are explained from the standing wave induced spatial selectivity and inhomogeneity. The connections to Doppler-broadened spectra are discussed.