Student Finds Fraternity's Playboy Party Disturbing

When I first heard about a Playboy-themed party hosted annually by a fraternity, I was a little shocked. Doesn't anyone think that this seems backwards and anti-feminist? It called for the guys to dress like pimps and the girls to dress as scantily as possible, short of arriving naked. Upon arriving, I immediately needed to take off my coat as I was inundated by the humidity from the body heat of the partygoers. There were drunken, shirtless male attendees wearing bow ties or wearing bathrobes and chewing on cigars. Not surprising. What was surprising, however, were the flocks of girls; my jaw dropped. There were people wearing outfits that consisted of only a bra, underwear, and perhaps a garter belt. Seriously?

My attitude toward fraternities at Trinity has always been a little derisive and disdainful. They, in essence, are establishments that create an artificial environment in which harmful, reckless, and downright sinful behavior is normalized. I would never, in any other environment, feel that it is appropriate to elbow through a crowd, spilling beer everywhere, only to engage in dancing that so closely resembles sex that it is absurd and then make-out with someone on the dance floor in front of everyone, feeling no embarrassment.

However, maybe this Playboy-themed party is actually a good thing. People really put it out there. It is about sex. It is all about sex. Does this bother you? Here, chug this beer, it dulls the sensation of disgust.

I'm not sure why this particular party bothered me more than others like GI Joes and Barbie hos, CEOs and Secretary Hos - notice a pattern? I know, it's really easy to rhyme things with "ho," but it's insulting. Yet, the supposedly bright young girls that attend Trinity continue to buy into these parties, perpetuating them. It has gotten so out of control; I recall one night when my roommate and I were dancing in the basement of a certain frat, and a brother approached us and yelled, "Why are you girls dancing so far apart? Get closer!" In an attempt to be sarcastic, I enthusiastically replied, "Wooo! I love being misogynized!" to which he replied, "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!" I'm sorry, but what did I do to be so unapologetically objectified?

Perhaps we are asking for it. Can we blame these boys for treating us as if the Feminist Movement never took place when we so willingly don bras, panties, and bunny ears and head out into the night to purposely get drunk and make some bad decisions? I don't know, but I personally refuse to encourage this absurdity. But, hey, I still go to fraternities and occasionally make some bad decisions, so maybe I'm not really one to talk. However, I always make it out wearing at least a shirt.