Guys vs. Girls Getting Ready

A serious double standard.

by OLIVE PESCHEL graphics by ALI DIMOVA

It’s some time in the evening, your pasta with red sauce has just finished digesting and you’re ready to take on the night. You consult your roommates about the tasks at hand. Now these are important tasks, they could determine your future drastically. Make or break any situation. By my description you might assume you’re going on stage or meeting with a big up executive, but really, you’re getting ready to dance with your gals in a cramped sweaty frat. All of your prep for that? And what are the guys doing? Why, they’re just eating kraft mac and cheese before throwing on their dirty Patagonia shirt and khakis. But who’s counting… The party prep for girls at this school has proven to be extremely thorough. It’s time to look into the real point of view of a guy’s getting-ready-

routine in an effort to give us girls some slack. For us, its about what Shein top we haven’t worn yet. Or if it’s a Docs night or Air Forces night. It’s the constant “Can I wear that?” or “Are you using your Revlon dryer right now?” We are always moving and always looking to perfect our chic appearance before walking into a fraternity or bar with broken floors. It controls the hair washing schedule, the tanning schedule, and so much more time that isn’t reciprocated. Truth be told, that humid house does not deserve how good you look in those leather pants. So why is this the standard? How has it become the norm that we are just supposed to settle for the thoughtless white vans? Looking good and therefore feeling good is a great feeling, but what we need to take a closer look at is the lack of reciprocation from the Brads in our midst.

I asked your average Syracuse male, who is greatly immersed in Greek life, what his typical night routine is before a party. One of the first responses that came ever so expectedly was the sentence: “I don’t really have a set plan, I usually do things on the fly.” With all due respect, I think we all know the outcome of this mindset and it definitely doesn’t match up to your perfectly blended eyeshadow. When asked about his hygiene and cosmetic choices before heading into the night, he responded with: “If I already showered at like 2 pm or mid-day, then I won’t shower again before a party…takes about 10 minutes to

get dressed and doing my hair plus cologne takes about 5 minutes.” Seems like a relaxing evening with little to no pressure I’d say. How is it that they can get away with this little effort? Presenting them with our natural beauty and hightended styles seems a little too giving. You’ve never hugged your roommate while she cried over a guy that smells like chicken tender thursday? Well when you do, just remind her that we will no longer be doing the most. It’s time to stop giving a f**k about how good we look at these parties. Because the proof is in the obvious and axe-smellin pudding: they don’t think twice about their appearance or color coordination.

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photo credits from left to right: @kourtneykardashian, @carly.feller & @morgannpisano, @matildajerf, @sophschlosser, @emma.lueders & @jdtriolo, @brookestantonn