Oh, 34th Street shoutouts. How you show the maturity, sophistication, and integrity that got all of us into this school.
Well, okay, at least we’re witty.
The thing that struck me about the shoutouts this week was the commentary on Penn girls. Granted, few shoutouts are written to make people feel warm and fuzzy inside, but the 27-line attack on our physical appearance, when coupled with our apparent “pathological materialism and runner-up trophy wife aesthetics,” felt a bit over the top. Even if it was pretty nonsensical, some part of me (my primordial forehead? my turkey tits? what do these things MEAN?) felt like I should be offended.
Luckily, a Columbia study released last year shows that Penn guys are pretty normal. From this week’s Slate article written by Ray Fisman, the author of the study:
So, yes, the stereotypes appear to be true: We males are a gender of fragile egos in search of a pretty face and are threatened by brains or success that exceeds our own. Women, on the other hand, care more about how men think and perform, and they don’t mind being outdone on those scores.
So to the author of that shoutout and his sympathizers: I’m sorry. It must be really hard to find a woman on campus who’s strikingly gorgeous as well as totally lacking in intelligence and ambition. (There are certainly some sororities to check out, though. Read the shoutouts carefully.) Interesting how many of the lesbians on campus are in stable, committed, happy, (sexful,) relationships.
In short: grow up. Penn women aren’t any less attractive than girls at any other school, but we’re smart enough to see through your crap. Stop bitching and either start looking somewhere else or deal with your insecurities.
When you do, those of us who haven’t tried something more interesting will be here, still looking good.
Tags: shoutouts
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November 10th, 2007 at 12:30 am
Actually Lindsey I think most men would agree with this 27-line “attack.”
“Penn women aren’t any less attractive than girls at any other school…”
Most Penn guys would disagree with this assessment.
November 10th, 2007 at 2:29 am
It’s ridiculous that people actually believe in this stereotype. I would say that if anything women at Penn are more attractive than at your average institution, but anyway that’s not the point. Anyone looking to find true satisfaction in some unrealistic, unhealthy standard, rather than in actual companionship, is going to be sorely disappointed. Penn men who feel this way should stop complaining and realize the problem is within themselves. Women are not superficial objects existing for your pleasure and to be scrutinized like you would a painting. They are people. Be man enough to treat them like it.
January 24th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
[...] an answer — as Ivy League attractiveness is a really, really touchy issue — I do feel like a creepy old guy just raising the [...]