For those of you who are completely out of the loop, this past Friday an article was posted on Develle Dish that created a little bit of controversy and much-needed conversation on campus. (Here’s the link: http://dukegroups.duke.edu/develledish/2011/dear-duke-guys/) In a nutshell it critiqued men for the way that they treat women, claiming that there is no dating scene at Duke and that we women should be appreciated and not merely seen as a hook-up.
While the piece itself was fine, what I really enjoyed was the comments that followed. Strangely enough, I took the time to read them all and really enjoyed hearing what my peers had to say.
A few of the different viewpoints represented were:
“The truth is that nice guys respect women regardless of their decisions to engage in casual sex.” – Dynamic Duo
“The reality is that when once a guy like me graduates, there will be a line of long legged models begging for my attention – so why bother with girls who can actually tolerate a place like “shooters” or, for that matter, Durham, North Carolina.” – Quid pro Quo
“Dating is a leisurely activity. So, maybe the problem is because of the guys.. and maybe it’s because of the girls.. but maybe collectively we need to begin to prioritize and better demonstrate in our behavior that time and energy dedicated to relationships with others are extremely worthwhile investments.” – anon
“It’s not just up to the men to ask you on a date (whether that’s coffee, dinner, a movie, a walk in the gardens, whatever). Hell, it’s the 21st century. Us men would also like to be asked on a date. Not to say that we won’t ask you too, but it goes both ways. Respect and equality aren’t just words we throw around. They are about how we interact with each other – on equal grounds.” – anon male
There were also tons of more insightful (and ridiculous) commentary and opinions. If you haven’t taken the time to check this out, I would really recommend it. Read what people have to say and join in if you want. Many of the different types of people on campus are represented in the comments and all of them come together to really shed some light on Duke’s dating scene. I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the conversation. Way to go Elle for stirring the pot a little and opening up a long-awaited discussion!