Posted on September 20, 2007
Parties are one of the staples of weekends at college, whether the school is Harvard or the University of Miami. Being that JMU is quite a lively university, it should come as no surprise to most readers that we have our fair share of these informal get-togethers. Specifically at JMU, these social functions generally have two things in common: dancing and young women.
To me, the answer to the posed question seems extremely obvious. Women who put effort into looking their best are more worthy of an attempt to approach them. The worst that can happen is that the girl can say no. In a crowded party with music blasting from the speakers, no one will even notice the tiny rejection of one party-goer by another. On the other hand, if the girl says yes to whatever the proposal is, the reward is that much greater.
In general, humans look for a few basic traits to determine the suitability of a mate. These qualities are at the basis of attraction and are the same in all cultures. In our times of good nutrition and sanitation, these physical indicators of health are much more widespread than in the past. In order to stand out from the pack, one has to dress up and stay in shape. Irrespective of the morality of this type of thinking, that is how the world is and how it will remain into the foreseeable future. All that it really means is that people need to put more effort into their appearance than in the past.
The simple truth is that no one wants to be with a slob. Girls who put effort into their appearance by getting dressed up are simply more attractive than girls who do not. The same is true for guys. How many women would walk up to a man at a party who was wearing a stained shirt and cutoffs? I suspect not too many. That is, of course, an extreme example but the principle is the same. There is no reason why a pretty girl should intimidate a man any more than an attractive guy should intimidate a woman.
David Schultz is a sophomore biology major.
It’s not a question of whether young women should get all decked out to party on a weekend night, but a question of whether they want to.
It doesn’t matter if guys find really dolled up women more attractive than moderately dressed women. That is their personal preference and should not influence how or to what extent women get ready for their evenings. Many women love getting dressed up to go to a party; it makes them feel more confident and in turn makes for a pleasant night. However, I speak for a lot of women when I say that many of us just don’t think it’s worth our time, spending an hour getting ready to go have a few drinks for a couple of hours, sometimes two or three times during the week. I’ve never been one to get all glammed up to go anywhere, except if it’s for a noteworthy occasion. In fact, the last time I recall wearing a dress was during my high school graduation ceremony. Friday night escapades with a few girlfriends certainly don’t warrant an extreme amount of attention to my appearance.
This is not to say I don’t like looking nice when I go out on the weekends. I do spend a considerable amount of time making sure I look presentable. But my intentions are purely personal. I don’t plaster layers of makeup on my face, spend 45 minutes doing my hair, or try on three outfits before I’m comfortable walking out my door and I frown upon young women who do this. It makes them seem like they’re screaming for attention at a party. But many ladies shy away from wanting to be hit on by guys. If this is true, don’t dress up like you want it.
But if you’re the type of woman who likes that sort of thing, let me conclude by saying this: When ladies go out on the weekends in a nice yet casual shirt and jeans and light amounts of make-up, they are confronted twice as much as when they get glammed up. I speak from personal experience as well as from stories of fellow females. Think about it.
Anna Young is a sophomore SMAD and sociology major.
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