2008 Woodie Awards
editorial: Troubling report finds sexism in social scene
Issue date: 5/1/08 Section: Opinions
The report of the Task Force on the Status of Women at Middlebury College, released to the College community by e-mail earlier this week, is surprisingly, refreshingly frank - and yet the contents of the report, which detail a student social life permeated by a dangerous degree of sexism, are deeply troubling. In what the task force has termed the most daunting of its findings, these fundamental problems of sexism foster a social life on campus that is dangerous and unhealthy for not only women but also the community as a whole.
What the report describes is in fact a reality students encounter on a routine basis: female students who are high-achieving, motivated and confident student leaders during the week are objectified - and indeed often objectify themselves - on the weekends. Alcohol, which according to the report is predominantly controlled by men on campus, exacerbates unhealthy social interactions in which risky sexual behavior is prevalent.
This social and gendered dynamic could, arguably, be applicable at any number of colleges. What Middlebury's report does acknowledge, however, is the unique "work hard, play hard" mentality held so dear at Middlebury is, in fact, one of the factors making Middlebury's social scene as dangerous as it is. In "playing" to the same extremes that Middlebury students work, students are driven to be high achievers both inside and outside of the classroom, coloring drinking and sexuality on campus in a decidedly competitive light. Given that students experience stress in different ways, the stress that results from academic workload, pressure to conform, body image issues, sexual relationships and recreational options, according to the report, remain significant gendered problems in 2008.
For many students, this description of the College's social life is neither surprising nor particularly disturbing. We are accustomed to seeing the Jekyll and Hyde-like manner in which men and women both work and study on campus. What is surprising is the acute institutional recognition now afforded to this social scene, however. The student social life is only one small facet of this sweeping report, but student social life, along with eating disorders, are handled with especial gravity and concern.
What the report describes is in fact a reality students encounter on a routine basis: female students who are high-achieving, motivated and confident student leaders during the week are objectified - and indeed often objectify themselves - on the weekends. Alcohol, which according to the report is predominantly controlled by men on campus, exacerbates unhealthy social interactions in which risky sexual behavior is prevalent.
This social and gendered dynamic could, arguably, be applicable at any number of colleges. What Middlebury's report does acknowledge, however, is the unique "work hard, play hard" mentality held so dear at Middlebury is, in fact, one of the factors making Middlebury's social scene as dangerous as it is. In "playing" to the same extremes that Middlebury students work, students are driven to be high achievers both inside and outside of the classroom, coloring drinking and sexuality on campus in a decidedly competitive light. Given that students experience stress in different ways, the stress that results from academic workload, pressure to conform, body image issues, sexual relationships and recreational options, according to the report, remain significant gendered problems in 2008.
For many students, this description of the College's social life is neither surprising nor particularly disturbing. We are accustomed to seeing the Jekyll and Hyde-like manner in which men and women both work and study on campus. What is surprising is the acute institutional recognition now afforded to this social scene, however. The student social life is only one small facet of this sweeping report, but student social life, along with eating disorders, are handled with especial gravity and concern.
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