Peace, maturity needed in 'girl world'

Mallory Livingston (Thursday, April 17)

In 2004, “Mean Girls” was a blockbuster hit, teaching us that “girl world” can be vicious in the high school circuit, exposing “girl offenses” from three-way calling tricks to boyfriend-stealing to backstabbing. In the movie, it comes off as cute, funny and even remarkably real.

Unfortunately, too many girls aren’t done being mean by the time they get to college. Although we’re all supposed to be “adults,” girls often trade insults from sorority to sorority, dance team to dance team, bar stool to bar stool.

But why are we still going out of our way to insult one another? In high school, all of that cattiness may have been well-founded, considering the fact that anywhere from 100 to 400 girls are packed into the same building with no outlet for frustration other than attempting to verbally rip one another’s faces off.

But in college, is all of that petty behavior really necessary? What, exactly, are we competing against each other for? One of the best points that was made in “Mean Girls” came at the end when Tina Fey’s character said, “You all have got to stop calling each other sluts and whores. It just makes it OK for guys to call you sluts and whores.”

There is something to be said for that statement, no matter how amusing the premise for the rest of the movie may have been. It is truly exasperating to find that so many young women are willing to degrade one another in some of the most cutthroat ways imaginable, but have no problem banding together when a man comments on the length of a women’s skirt.

The bottom line is that it shouldn’t be tolerable no matter who says it. Ask yourselves ladies, would you be offended if you heard a guy say about a girl what you’re about to say? If the answer is yes, then it’s time to reevaluate. Emporia State has over 6,000 students—if you don’t like someone, hang out with someone else.

If a true “girl on girl crime” does occur, then surely the offended party can find something more substantial to say about her foe than to criticize her appearance or boyfriend or backpack or any other number of trivial things.

Finally, it has to be said that every one of us girls out there is guilty of it. We have all done or said something to or about another girl that has been just plain mean at one point or another. But the fact of the matter is that we’re a little too old not to know better, and it is high time “girl world” be at peace.

15 Responses to "Peace, maturity needed in 'girl world'"


Avid Reader
April 20, 2008 5:09 pm
Someone needs to go back to high school. This column ranks up there some of Joanna's columns in the fact that it is childish and pointless. I usually skip the opinion page when I see this group of columnists as it leads to a loss of brain cells.
Aw that's not nice
April 21, 2008 9:52 am
Then why did you read it? Oh yeah, so you could say something mean about someone else in order to make yourself feel better. Nice.

I thought it was good. There are a lot of people who need to hear this kind of thing. Avid Reader is probably one of them.

Have a nice day!
???
April 21, 2008 11:48 am
Wow! This is the worst article to hit the news stands in years. Trite gibberish may be acceptable to some, but for the rest of us it's downright disgusting. In fact I am going to finish this note, sprint to the toilet and hope that I don't spray puke so violently that it stains the ceiling.
Let me guess!
April 21, 2008 11:57 am
You wrote it ATNN. The only reason anyone would like it, would be if they were the ones to write it. Glad that you are your own fan club.
Hmmm?
April 21, 2008 2:59 pm
I have had Mallory in some of my class and find this article a little hypocritical. If you think other girls need to stop acting childish, you should probably start doing so yourself.
Avid Reader
April 23, 2008 9:12 pm
I wish Mallory would lose her 'voice box', clearly she hasn't learned to form an educated opinion of the course of the semester. You think someone who has been on staff would have actually to write.
Avid Reader
April 23, 2008 9:16 pm
Before you jump my shit "Aw that's not nice" it should be OVER the course of the semester. Just thought I would clear that up before you go all psycho.
What the???
April 24, 2008 5:03 pm
Seriously people? Someone writes that we need to treat each other with respect and it's called trite gibberish or that it's not an educated opinion? How sad.
Stevo '98
April 28, 2008 11:25 pm
Guys can be mean too. This column sucks; see, that was mean. True, but mean. And I'm gonna vocally rip into Chris Hunter's face. I went to high school with his older brother, Craig. Craig and I hated eachother, but we didn't throw around catty insults. We took care of it in the back alley behind the school. Long story short, Craig has a handicap sticker he still uses.
Kevin Nardi
April 29, 2008 2:37 am
Yes, Stevo, I'm sure we all agree that your solution is much more mature. Bravo on finding the true answer to solving differences--hurting people you don't like. If only the world had thought of that sooner...
Student
April 29, 2008 2:40 am
Wow Stevo, your comment was about as bad as this column, or at least Joanna's newest.
Mallory is a talented writer.
April 30, 2008 11:07 am
All writers have something to work on but when it comes to head, heart, and original ideas Mallory has it all. I have gotten the chance to observe Mallory off and on during the semester, not like a stalker but like an acquaintance. I feel like I have benefited greatly from her leadership and her opinions. I believe she is both creative and open-minded, and I know she is going somewhere. If you think you can do her job better then apply, but until then, stop complaining and realize that every writer has their days, and just because you don't like what they say does not make them a bad writer. This column was an example of her creativity, and understanding of the fact that though she may not be perfect, something does need to be done about all of the problems we are seeing like listed above today. I agree with her, and the fact that men have stupid drama as well and just wanted to say that. Well done Mallory!
Stevo '98
April 30, 2008 10:23 pm
I did apply at the Bulletin, but due to the history I have with his brother, Chris Hunter won't hire me.
well...
May 2, 2008 5:23 pm
that is pathetic
Older Student
May 11, 2008 1:51 am
First of all, Mallory's writing is a step up for the Bulletin, but that is not the issue. What the article had to say was something that needed to be said, but unfortunately, people like "Avid Reader," and "???," who are most likely the type of people the article was talking about, just don't get the point. Some people, like these two, are never happy unless they are tearing down someone else. I am guessing, though, that neither one is a person who could actually voice their opinion to another's face. They only have enough backbone for this kind of anonymous forum. And I will further guess that in the case of one or both of them their remarks were personal - an issue they have with the writer that has nothing to do with the article. And oh yeah, "Stevo," it's too bad you didn't get that job on the paper. No doubt we would see all sorts of quality articles from a person of your intellect. Grow up, people. It's sad that you are old enough to be in college and yet are still this petty and hateful. I do agree with "Avid Reader" on one point though - whoever he or she is, they certainly can't afford to lose any more brain cells.