She was asking for it
February 7, 2010 – 2:18 pmAfter reading a recent New York Times article on the woes of (straight) women on college campuses seeking to date but coming up against a man shortage, I couldn’t help but be thankful that I attended a single-sex undergrad institution. (I should also note that said institution has since gone co-ed, which is why they will never receive a single fucking dime from me as an alum.)
What really made me roll my eyes was this lovely sentence:
“Thanks to simple laws of supply and demand, it is often the women who must assert themselves romantically or be left alone on Valentine’s Day, staring down a George Clooney movie over a half-empty pizza box.”
Now, I have definitely have issues with the cult of Valentine’s Day, or as I call it, “Cheap Chocolate Eve,” but for the NYT to make it seem that if you don’t have a date on that day, the only alternative is to stay home and sulk is quite frankly, bullshit.
“Be paired up or else you’re doomed to 20 cats” — it’s constantly trotted out by the media and way too many authors as a crutch to sell papers, books, seminars, whatever. Now, I’m not going to bitch about that too much because I’m not about to tell someone how they should make their money, but, I would like to implore these folks to come up with a new angle if you’re going to continue selling this schtick to people. (And I’ll be honest and say that yes, I’ve bought into that thinking previously.)
My note to the single folks out there is to not settle. I went on a bunch of dates last year and while they were laughable in some regards, they did serve as a way to further hone what I like/don’t like and what I’ll tolerate/won’t tolerate.
You see, this is when some relationship “guru” is supposed to pop out and say, “Stop being so picky!” Of course, I’ll laugh in their face. Do I consider myself a “catch”? Yes and no. Do I consider myself quality goods who shouldn’t settle for just any old thing? Hell yes!
What I find so bothersome is that women are supposed to be flawless while we fight over scraps because “all the good men are taken.” Pfffft!
Unfortunately, at the same time women are having it drilled into their heads that they need to fix this, this, and that, men who don’t fit a specific mold are being told they don’t deserve anyone because they don’t look like [insert name of some hot musician/actor here] or are being used for comic fodder.
It’s time for a revolt people. Let’s move beyond the lowest common denominator and stop feeling sorry for ourselves. Go out and enjoy life whether it’s with a mate or on our own.
Now excuse me as I need to plan my next solo travel outing…
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2 Responses to “She was asking for it”
Ah, so Jezebelish. Love it.
http://jezebel.com/5458230/marry-him-a-diet-book-for-your-love-life
By turtle on Feb 15, 2010
Thanks, turtle! Oddly enough, I’m a regular commenter on Gawker, but didn’t see this Jezebel article. Go figure.
It seems as if the author is trying to get us to board the “Meh, I’ve Settled for Less and So Should You” bus.
By DimpleAndASmirk on Feb 16, 2010