College kids like to party. We also like to drink, use drugs, act promiscuous, sleep in and slack off. Sure, maybe we do a little bit of studying in-between keg stands, but even this occurs only in the absence of beer pong or body shots.
At least that is the stereotype. Needless to say, the image of the out-of- control, drug-induced, reckless college student is far too prevalent in our media, and while many recognize it, few actually question it. Instead, we find this stereotyping to be crudely entertaining. Now, considering the various ways that our culture influences the media, and vice versa, might our own institute of higher learning be regarded as a breeding ground for illegitimate drinking and casual sex? How delightful to the prospective Duck!
As we all know, the reality of academia – the classes, the responsibilities, the stressors – is very different. In actuality, the academics are more than just a supplement of the college experience. Many of us actually do make the conscious decision to sacrifice our precious time with Johnny Walker and Mary Jane in order to hunch over textbooks and laptops and work hard for good grades.
I will admit that to some degree, these stereotypes do retain a slight amount of truth. We like to sleep in. Some of us will muster up the energy to leave our homes to attend a party but would rather not utilize that same energy to attend class. A few of us even go to class high. It doesn’t mean we don’t care about our education. But apparently these are supposed to be the best years of our lives and, naturally, we feel the pressure to indulge before we are forced into the real world. It’s convenient that the media represents us as unbridled and self-absorbed because we subconsciously consider our actions to be normal – even expected.
Just look at how the college girl, or “co-ed,” is a symbol of unchecked sexuality. Pay attention to the purported taboo of teacher-student relationships. Notice the stereotyped relationship of college students and parties. Might this cause the female college student to amplify her own sexuality as part of her identity? Could this affect how frequently we seek to find our own teachers as attractive? Might this reinforce a feeling of self-deprecation if we aren’t spending our weekends reliving scenes from Old School? (I’m not exaggerating – I’ve seen girls literally wrestle in kiddie pools filled with KY Jelly.)
If you believe in self-fulfilling prophecies, then consider the idea that perhaps this all-too-prevalent stereotype might perpetuate our own “collegiate” tendencies. Yes, we are constantly checking each other out. We do congregate around mild-altering substances. We will post pictures of ourselves wasted on our Facebooks without much hesitation. Is this not what society expects from us?
Yet, those who do fulfill those stereotypical roles as promoted in movies such as Animal House, Van Wilder, Rules of Attraction, etc. consist only of a small proportion of our student body. It seems unfair that such a small number of students should represent the college experience as a whole. This overused idea not only misrepresents us, but it does not recognize the hard work and intellectual integrity that college demands. Nowadays, we pay more and take on more in order to eventually merge into a fast-paced, demanding professional world. Yet, the outdated stereotype remains steady.
So next time you find yourself laughing fitfully at another second-rate movie that depicts college as all fun and games, think of how you as a college student are being represented in our media-drenched culture. How might this affect your own perception of college life? How could this influence your own actions? Then, Google search “college humor” and ask yourself if you, as a college student, find the results to be humorous or downright insulting.
[email protected]