I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Having a cause worth caring for is an essential component to the human soul. If you cannot be passionate about something, then how can you be passionate about your own life? These are things we need to realize. This is the reason why we need to walk with our respective heads up high. I personally don’t care what you care about, but you should probably care about something. Hell, if you’re lucky like me, you might find out you care about something that you had no idea you actually cared about in the first place. Allow me to explain.
Recently I went to a party, and, after many games of pong and Mario Kart and other festivities, I walked myself and a seemingly harmless, very sweet young lady home, with absolutely no hidden agenda. I was being the gentleman my mom and sister taught me to be, and I had no intentions of hooking up because quite frankly, she was not in any condition to be making serious decisions. But this lady, who will be known as Jane here, launched into a drunken tirade I was not prepared for, and for the first time in my life I became a feminist.
After noticing some odd behavior at the party, which included Jane constantly begging that she not be yelled at or hit even though she was never in any danger of either, the walk home only got more jaw-dropping. Never before have I heard a woman say the following: “My sorority (who shall remain nameless) told me that the more clothes I wear, the less cute I’ll be,” and, “Women are here only to serve men,” and, “I need a guy to put me in my place.” Those were only the highlights of the conversation on the way back home. Finally, I got fed up. I peaced out, and high-tailed my ass home in shock. What had just happened? Did I just encounter the weirdest role-reversal ever? Was she trying to be seductive and failed miserably? I cannot give an educated answer as to her motives because I honestly think Jane has been brainwashed by her male and female friends and the Greek system.
Within a 10-minute walk, I became the feminist, and Jane became the chauvinist. Now, I have always held the highest respect for women because that was how I was raised, but never have I ever considered myself to be a feminist because that is a huge commitment. That’s like swearing devotion to a basketball team: Once you say it, that’s who you’re going to root for until they move or dissipate, or until you die. Needless to say, I simply do not know enough about feminism to wholly devote myself to the cause, but I know enough to say that Jane is tragically confused.
Whether the many horrific things she said about her sorority and the message they broadcast are true or an exaggeration will not be known. But if the anti-women message her sorority is projecting is accurate, then, friends and peers, we have yet another serious malfunction within the Greek community. After some prodding, I came to the conclusion on my walk home with Jane that she was being fully serious and genuinely believed the things she was saying, drunk or not. Then again, maybe there is nothing wrong with her sorority, and Jane has simply been brainwashed through other venues.
She spoke of men grabbing, shoving and pushing her because it “kept her in line.” Who the hell are these assholes? Are we not yet past the generation of domestic violence and unequal social rights? Look, I understand I get out of line sometimes, and I definitely need someone to keep me in check, but in no way should a woman ever be disrespected through any form of physical violence. I was in shock that I had to fight against domestic violence while a female right in front of me promoted it. Now I know this says more about Jane than it does about me, but what are her friends, role models and Greek life teaching this woman if she thinks all these things are OK and true? What made her feel like women are servants for men? I certainly will never know because I will likely never speak to Jane again.
Living in Eugene and Portland my whole life, I have come to the conclusion that I live in a secure, cozy, liberal environment, and the rest of the region and country are not necessarily the same way. I’m always forgetting this. Or perhaps this is a social class issue. Or maybe it is a family values issue that hasn’t been ingrained into parents as a relevant thing to teach young girls. Or maybe it’s something I don’t even know about. The point is, young ladies, hold your heads up high because you are worth everything. You don’t exist solely for men, no matter what any other woman or man may tell you, regardless of how good of a friend you think they are.
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