In my previous article, I briefly brought up how movies horribly depict what actually goes on during sleepovers. I obstinately stick to this belief; however, there is one exception that I have to make and it is this: boys in real life are just as profoundly (and almost pitifully) confused about sleepovers as represented in the movies. So today, I elucidate on this argument of mine, and discuss what I believe to be the four most common misconceptions of sleepovers. Let the ranting begin!
1. We put on facemasks, paint each other’s nails, and do each other’s hair
Okay, this is true…to a certain extent. Boys seem to assume that sleepovers are built on the foundations of solely superficial activities, but contrary to popular belief, the acts of face mask-ing, painting nails, and French braiding hair do not make up the entirety of the sleepover. It is also ironic how, in reality, these simple activities are not as ideal as they seem. In my personal experience, I am always the girl left with the facemask that no one wants (I was once awkwardly stuck with some obscure vegetable facemask after all the chocolate and fruit ones were quickly snatched), and I will also never forget the time that I self-assuredly offered to paint a friend’s nails only to severely regret it as soon as I realized that a toddler could do a better job.
2. We watch movies like The Notebook and cry together
Again, contrary to what many boys think, we would rather watch The Notebook with a guy, NOT a group of girls. The whole point of watching The Notebook with a guy is so that we can let the movie do the job of articulating our most fervent of desires: that the male species should be more like Noah. Watching sappy movies like The Notebook with girlfriends is perfectly acceptable, but will just result in congregative crying and ice cream eating; so unless we are really all in the mood, we stick to films with happier content.
3. We play provocative games like truth and dare
This misconception is very much a fetishized, masculine assumption of what happens at sleepovers. We don’t need games like truth or dare to expose our darkest of secrets, because we do it voluntarily! The beauty of sleepovers is that we are amongst people we trust, and we never have to worry about secrets leaving the room. Also, daring friends to do crazy things is very much a ‘guy’ activity, as women don’t seem to get the same level of satisfaction and entertainment from humiliating each other…
4. We have pillow fights
I once had a pillow fight at a sleepover, and have never had one since. Firstly, pillow fights are expensive. Whilst knocking each other around with pillows may seem endearing, it is only once feathers go flying everywhere that you realize you have to buy new ones. Secondly, cleaning up feathers is a tedious job, and absolutely no fun at all. Thirdly, pillow fighting is a lot of effort- effort that could be spent being lazy and immobile under the covers. I no longer have the zest of a ten year old, so my girlfriends and I just stick to exercising my mouth and talking late into the night instead.