Constant stares, glares, and judgement

For those who do NOT know, James Madison University has a ratio of 60% to 40% of females to males within it’s student population. When I first heard about JMU, and was interested in possibly attending it, I had not even noticed this statistic because I had ruled it out as minuscule. HOWEVER! My opinion changed once I finally began my experience in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Moving into Frederikson Hall freshman year, this ratio was evident when only 6 suites were guys and the remaining floors were all girls. As my education furthered, my major classes began to have less and less males as well, some only having one boy in them. Aside from the students at JMU being majority females, the ratio continues within the faculty and staff as well… so you’re thinking GIRL POWER, right?? NO. Here at James Madison, the plethora of girls has encouraged a competition, instead of a united front.

There has a been a problem that for some upsetting reason is only growing at JMU. Whether  I am out and about on the weekends, in class during the week, or going to the grocery store for a loaf of bread, there is constant stares, glares, and judgment between the girls of JMU. I believe that these harsh critiques between girls have come from the lack of men, and their want to find that next “hookup” or boyfriend. With options being so limited, girls participate in these “catty” games, in order to gain attention from the surrounding boys.

I find that this environment is frustrating for the feminist cause. Instead of us girls working together to show the boys we do not NEED their attention, we are throwing our own kind under the bus. With the guys at JMU knowing about their excessive options of girls, a handful of boys have ALSO created a stereotype for themselves…ASSHOLES. These males think that they can disrespect the girls, and screw them over, because there is plenty of more out there.

So here is what we as women of JMU must do before this madness turns us all against each other. We must unite instead of compete with one another. This anger and frustration for the limiting ratio should not be taken out on someone who could one day be your best friend, but create a “silent awareness” with the sisterhood we have here. My ideal “silent awareness” calls attention about the wrong things, happening to the right people. We must stop participating in these vicious and judgmental conflicts, and start using it to unite with each other, to advance the feminist movement here in Harrisonburg.

So okay call me crazy or overreacting, but this is an issue that only women of JMU can truly understand. It is moments like, waiting in line at Dukes for your sandwich to be made, and looking around to count the number of boys there, on one hand. Or when you’re in line for the bathroom at a fraternity party with strictly girls. These moments may seem minuscule, but to me and the cat fights that I have witnessed, I can no longer NOT notice it.

In the words of our school moto, it is time for us, the campus feminists to BE THE CHANGE. So like I said, lets focus on sisterhood, friendship, and uniting with each other, instead of constant stares, glares, and judgement.