In a world that has always been sexist, we often fail to notice when women and men are treated differently because it has always been that way. Inequality is a common occurrence.
Homecoming is not an exception. As women, we are expected to spend a fortune on a new dress for each dance because “won’t people know that I wore the same dress last time? I have to get a new one. That’s so embarrassing.” Oh, and nails? “EVERYONE gets their nails done for the dance. And I can’t go with my normal face, so I need $100 worth of makeup too! Can’t forget the jewelry, and the hair, and the shaving, and the shoes, and the meal beforehand…” But somehow, boys can wear the same dress shirt, dress pants, shoes and tie for every dance and every ceremony and even events that occur after they graduate. It’s practical.
But somehow, women were assigned the “high maintenance” stereotype that is ever present in society today. Perhaps because men forced it upon us, never letting our bare faces shine through layers of makeup, and never allowing the sight of a prickly hair coming from our leg, shin, toe, armpit, etc. Perhaps it was because we forced it upon ourselves when we felt the need to fit in, to be beautiful, to conform as humans naturally do. But wait! In ten years, will it really matter? That is just one question we must ask.
Another, why are we, as a culture, a group, a society, like this? Why does everything have to be new or shiny or expensive? There goes $300 that could have possibly contributed to my college education. It’s all pointless. So I challenge you, to wear the same dress, to not shave your legs, to do your hair and not give it a second thought because women were not put on earth to please men or anyone other than themselves.
Two Cents • Oct 24, 2017 at 10:13 pm
Dear Author,
While I acknowledge that the world we live in is host to many double standards, such standards are not as one-sided in CHS’s Homecoming as you make them out to be.
Firstly, I would like to make the argument that the process of getting ready for homecoming is meant to be one that is enjoyed, and not forced upon anyone. It is part of the process to meet up with friends, get ready together, do your hair together, do your nails together, get pictures together, etc… This event in itself can be one of the most enjoyable parts of school dances for many people of all genders. The notion that girls do their hair and do their nails and shave to impress a guy in a dimly lit room where everyone’s jumping up and down is flawed.
And about the money…
The only people who would ever “call you out” for wearing the same dress twice are your fellow female friends in your group. (The ones who you’re having fun getting all fancied up with right?) Quite frankly I can’t tell you what color dress anyone wore this Homecoming, much less in half a year when Winter Carnival rolls around. Guys have to spend just as much on formal clothing as girls do. Sure I could go out and buy a $400 top of the line dress shirt and $200 slacks, but why would you do that when you’re going to wear the outfit three maybe four times? Also, your math seems to be a little bit sketchy, to say the least. That “$300 that could have possibly contributed to [your] college fund”? Let’s start with the most expensive part: the dress. Most girls typically spend around $50ish on a casual “dance” dress. I know that this can vary by the individual but stick with me. (By the way, $50 is less than how much a dress shirt, dress pants, a belt, and a tie generally cost) And you claim $100 on makeup for one dance? That seems pretty high even for the insanely inflated makeup prices I know women have to deal with. Even if you have to go out and spend ~$20 on makeup (totally not required / necessary to impress guys at the dance), you still have 97% of it left over to reuse again the next time. Add another $30 for shoes (being generous), we get a grand total of $100 for a mid-budget homecoming purchase for girls. U of M says about $30,000 total expenses a year for in-state underclassmen, so yes I suppose there goes ⅓ of a % of your college tuition for one year.
It’s true that double standards are set in the homecoming season, but to call it “sexist towards females” seems oblivious to the struggles of other people during this time. Who in modern society is expected to pay for the date? Who is supposed to hold the door open? Who is supposed to “man up” and ask who? Who is always supposed to hide their emotions?
That’s my 2 cents.
Every Logical Human • Oct 24, 2017 at 10:58 am
Although I respect your opinion and feminism as a whole, this Buzzfeed style of social justice is ridiculous. This type of article makes feminism less accessible to every male on the planet, because it’s always the man’s fault. Making real social progress is impossible if you make it impossible to support. It’s as if you blame every problem women have exclusively on men.
In the opening sentence, you suggest that men and women are treated differently. Maybe this is a valid point, but it doesn’t pertain to anything else in the article. All that was discussed was how men and women act differently, not how they are treated. Truthfully the only thing I gathered about women is that as a whole they have awful spending habits.
One of the bigger ideas that I hear thrown around in the realm of feminism is the “expectations” men put on women. This seems to be the main focus of your argument. You talked about how women absolutely must have a brand new dress, exquisite nails, and amazing hair. It would be absurd to say that men are the ones who create those beauty expectations. No guy will ever notice if your dress is new, or how much it costs. No guy will ever know how much you paid your hairdresser, or what they did to it. No guy will ever care what color your nails are. No guy will ever know if your jewelry from exploited African children is real. I’d also like to add that most men would be more appalled by wearing excessive makeup than none at all. The only ones who discuss and fret about these standards are women. Before anyone asks why I am able to speak for men and not the author, it is because I am a male. The author is not.
Before being enlightened by this article, I was unaware that only women have to spend money at school dances. I now understand that men don’t have to pay for clothes, even though they grow out of their old ones. I never realized I didn’t have to pay for my dates dinner, yet society always told me I did. I never knew I didn’t have to buy new shoes, even though the ones I wear every week wore out. Oh, I almost forgot I didn’t know women were forced to buy inherently impractical clothes. I mean it truly is an obvious afterthought to buy something that can be worn more than once. Huh, sure learned a lot today.
It may be true that women are seen as high maintenance, but this article only contributes to that stereotype. By making arguements that are based in feelings and emotions rather than facts and evidence, you come off slightly irrational. Although this is a strategy used successfully by many politicians, I doubt you’d want to use Donald Trump’s campaign tactics to gain feminist support.
Gender roles are another major point of feminism. This is a major double standard. While women are seen as the emotional ones, I have been trained since birth to be tough and hide my emotions: ever heard the phrase “man up”? While the traditional gender roles still exist, the negative side effects aren’t purely on women.
Generally at formal events, the goal is to look your best, and the same applies to homecoming. If you have a date, I would think it is respectful to to be hygienic. Hygiene is not unreciprocated between both parties. I will also look unkempt if I don’t shave. I will look unkempt if I don’t get a haircut. If you don’t shave your leg, armpit or toe (singular not plural apparently) you may come off as untidy, which I would thonk is somewhat disrespectful to a date. Yes, preparing for the dance may be more time consuming for females, but it is not unchallenged. If you don’t have a date and are only going with friends, then who cares. If you are only going with friends and you still feel these beauty expectations, you prove my point that these standards are put on by women, not men.
So while your emotional rant may seem like fact to some, most of it is completely false. While feminism has a purpose, this article steps way outside that purpose and unfairly portrays the roles of women and men in society. However, people don’t recognize this, resulting in people like myself being labeled mysoginistic for “opposing feminism”.
Phil Swift • Oct 6, 2017 at 2:10 pm
The notion that women are “forced” to participate in these activities is utter nonsense. If you are complaining about the price of a dress and how it takes money from your education, then there’s the simple solution that is not going to homecoming. You can then add all this money to your education. You’re also claiming that men wear the same type of clothes at all formal events, which could also be said about what women wear if it’s put in vague terms like the ones used in this article. I’d also like to point out that men are obligated to shave as well, and that most of the things that are complained about in this article are optional.
MacKenna • Oct 6, 2017 at 1:51 pm
PREACH!
Hillary Clinton • Oct 6, 2017 at 1:31 pm
Dear author,
If you think homecoming costs too much then don’t go.
Sara • Oct 6, 2017 at 12:46 pm
I one hundred percent agree with you! There are SO many standards put on women for homecoming and every formal event. If we don’t wear makeup, we look not put together. If we wear the same dress, we’re cheap. If we don’t shave, we aren’t upholding the “women need to be hairless” standards that society put so on us. Something definitely needs to change. It’s just unfair. Yeah, guys have to spend money, but there’s not the same level standards that there are for women.
Every Logical Human • Oct 13, 2017 at 1:04 pm
The only one people putting these “expectations” on women are WOMEN. No guy will ever notice if your hair is not professionally done, or nails, or if you were the same dress. No guy will notice and or criticize you for any of the points made in the article. If anything, men would be more willing to criticize someone for wearing too much makeup than none at all. Plus, it’s not like only women have to shave. Most guys have to shave every morning to look unhygienic.
Maegan • Oct 6, 2017 at 12:44 pm
I loved this! It was amazing! You did a great job of giving the facts and expressing your feelings. I definitely agree with you.
Every Logical Human • Oct 13, 2017 at 12:53 pm
Facts? There a wasn’t a single fact in this article.. purely editorial and opinionated.
Maddie R • Oct 6, 2017 at 12:41 pm
I would say that if it’s a person’s personal choice, regardless of gender, they should be able to wear whatever they would like, no matter what however if someone is doing it just because of patricarchal pressure, it’s definitely a problem! People should have their own personal choice over themselves and their actions.
Garrett malady • Oct 6, 2017 at 12:29 pm
I totally disagree with this whole article this is the most absurd thing I’ve read
Dan • Oct 6, 2017 at 11:33 am
While I don’t deny any of the statements you wrote, I would like to point out that males feel an equal amount of pressure too. They spend hundreds on a tux, transportation, dinner, fragrance, etc, all to make themselves appear presentable for the person that they asked out. Also, more often than not, since society has engrained it into many, it’s the males who go out on a limb to propose. It’s all a matter of respect to for both of them to look presentable for each other.
John Cena • Oct 6, 2017 at 11:20 am
Although this article may be true In modern times, saying the world has always been sexist is an overstatement, considering that humanity has lived in egalitarian hunter gatherer societies for 96% of its existence.
John Cena • Oct 6, 2017 at 1:23 pm
Egalitarian is a term meaning equality for those that don’t know
Geo • Oct 5, 2017 at 9:48 pm
BOOM. YOU TELL IT HOW IT IS!! YES!