March is Women's History Month, another block of the calendar dedicated to unifying citizens by informing them that, no matter how much progress we make in breaking down cultural and societal barriers, people are still poles apart.
While I respect and admire the accomplishments of diverse peoples, and how such work has brought an end to the dark days of oppression, the need to continually segregate these accomplishments contradicts any effort to achieve real social equality.
Women's History Month is especially belittling to women who have made real strides towards equality. Instead of learning about their accomplishments, we are most likely to be bombarded with propaganda detailing domestic violence, "sexting" or eating disorders. Wouldn't it make sense to focus on the upstanding accomplishments of women rather than spotlight their insecurities and homemaker stereotypes?
Why litter an "informational" month, which is supposed to be about the significant accomplishments of self-sufficient women, with awareness advertisements that portray the majority of women as weak, insecure and dependent? A prime example of such downgrading advertisements can be found in the Student Life Pavilion, where a display expresses concern over eating disorders.
The more feminist jargon I am force-fed, the more my respect for Women's History Month diminishes at a rate comparable to the number of job openings for our blue-collar workforce. Many women preach "equality" and "equal rights," but only when favorable inequalities don't exist.
Think back to the divorce of Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson in 2006. With Simpson taking in a reported $25 million in 2005, the "fallen from grace" boy-bander had no choice but to file for spousal support upon their separation. Of course, Lachey was painted as an unethical and crude monster after submitting this request; a request that is a touted entitlement by many women who find themselves in the same shoes. After a harsh bullying from the press, the 98 Degrees star dropped his request, but in reality he was just as entitled to alimony as any woman would have been in the same situation.
I'm sure that it's degrading to be admired only for your breasts or other curvy attributes, but it seems less important when that degradation leads to a free meal, drink or job promotion.
Consider senior night last week. While my fellow XY-chromosomers and I woke up on Saturday morning with massive headaches and bank accounts totaling a number similar to that of Snooki's brain cells, a significant portion of our female peers were unaware of just how much more we had to pay for our drinks at the Stingaree. This is just one obvious instance of societal gender inequality; yet I hear no cries of injustice.
Similar scenarios are replete throughout a woman's life. Men have an undying desire to conquer the unknown, which many females use to their full advantage. A few smiles and a tidbit of small talk in a store may get them that employee discount, especially if they have a well-rounded poker face. This holds true in nightclubs, restaurants, the workplace and, most frustrating of all, on our very own campus.
USD males are a minority here on campus, representing roughly 30 percent of our student body. Many of you may have seen the state-of-the-art workplace perched atop the fourth floor of the Student Life Pavilion known as "The Women's Center." But I'm sure none of you have laid eyes on a men's center.
It seems like a strict policy for USD to pamper its minority groups, yet men are shamefully overlooked in this respect. Hopefully, the administration will soon wake up to this mistreatment of males and try to blanket our campus with real equality, adequately representing not just special interest groups, but each and every minority in its entirety.
I realize by now that the claws, formerly known as French manicures, of many female readers may be itching to shoot out and slash my throat. Fear not, my maddened madames; as a true gentleman, I too fall victim to the male weakness I've so eagerly outlined.
Just think of this as an exercise in raising awareness for myself and the other men across campus to not only respect women, but also to be sure we allow equality to rise out of the ashes of a male-dominated tradition.
Now, who wants to buy me a drink?
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