Connor Kelly highlights and brings insight to the development and cultural effect the hookup culture has evoked on college campuses in “Feminist Ethics Evaluating the Hookup Culture”. Connor starts out with the statement: “Hooking up-the practice of pursuing sexual activity without any expectation of a relationship” (Kelly 27). It is also explained that hooking up can constitute as kissing, sexual intercourse, or anywhere in between. The mystery of the “in-between” allows individuals to participate in the hookup culture as a means to fit in, without being specific on what level of sexual activity they are partaking in. A main theme of this article can be described by the idea that hooking up allows for a greater realm of independence than …show more content…
a standard committed relationship, and independence is a common yearning in college students. Thus, making hooking up an appealing “extra curricular” activity among United States college students. For the hookup culture in the United States, there are four common features that constitute and shape its culture. These four features are: “lack of commitment, ambiguous language, alcohol use, and social pressure to reform” (Kelly 27). Some students are appealed by the lack of commitment that hooking up implies, because it allows for separation of their sexual life from other larger commitment areas in their life. Kelly suggest in numerous reiterations that hooking up is appealing for the lack of commitment it entails, as well as gaining sexual gratification without the compromise of their freedom. This pursuit of sexual activity without constraints and expectations of a relationship has become a common element in the US college experience. Due to the fact that this type of culture has exponentially become popular in this generation, many parents, faculty members, and members of older generations as a whole this the hookup culture is an end to morality. Even with this stigmatism, college students believe this culture is the epitome of freedom. Besides the fact that hooking up allows for a greater amount of independence and freedom, there are many other factors to why committed relationship are on the decline on college campuses.
For women in particular, they believe they have to please everyone around them including their parents. With partaking in the hookup culture, they are able to work towards their career, which pleases their parents, while still being sexually gratified, therefor also pleasing themselves. As a general statement for both men and women, both parties across college campuses are looking to just hook up now, and save marriage for later. With that being said, there is still statistical evidence that women seek marriage at a higher rate in college than men. Although everyone who partakes in the hookup culture does so for different reasons, some women do join as a way to conform to society. Others even join the hookup culture with the intentions to find a relationship, thinking that they can “change” a man into getting into a committed relationship: “Men are more willing to engage in the hookup culture for sexual gratification alone while women are more likely to be seeking relationships from their hookups” (Kelly 38). Many women who do have this mindset are aware they likely won’t be …show more content…
successful. In the article Kelly suggests: “There is little to no space in the college atmosphere for slowly progressing relationships that might begin on an emotional level before moving to physical intimacy and even less space for traditional dating relationships” (Kelly 30).
Going along with this quote, it is stated that hooking up is detrimental to a possible future relationship with that person, and that the days following the hookup could be awkward. A key aspect of the hookup culture that differs from committed relationships, is that there is a need for the separation of emotion from the physical activity: “A true expulsion of commitment requires a separation of emotions from physical activity that is challenging to accomplish” (Kelly 37). This is one reason as to why the hookup culture is skewed against women. It is scientifically suggested that it is easier for men to separate emotions from physical activity than it is for women. Along with this aspect, there are feminist that believe the hookup culture is skewed against women for multiple other reasons as well. Some feminist believe that: “Women should participate in the hookup culture in order to match the freedom of men” (Kelly 41). This quote suggests that men have more freedom than women, even on college campuses and in regards to sexual gratification. Others suggest that women that take part of the hookup culture, and are known to take part in it by males, are less desirable because they have the connotation of a “slut”.
It is undesirable to men to be involved sexually with a known slut, but yet men can get away with skewing the number of women they have been sexually active with to a greater amount to impress their male friends. This connotation suggests that men have the upperhand when it comes to the hookup culture, and women are once again taking the greater grievance by participation: “Structural analysis highlights the troubling fact that the hookup culture is built upon a coercive pressure to conform and that women bear the brunt of this burden” (Kelly 47). After reading the article regarding the hookup culture, it once again brought me insight into how women are left in the submissive role to men. Not only do women have a harder time with separating their feeling than men, but they also can be exploited by men for sexual gratification. As a woman myself, it is disheartening to think about myself or any other female in my life to be exploited by a man for sexual purposes. Although I, too can see a prevalent amount of the hookup culture among college campuses, it is sickening to think that it would in the greater interest for one party than the other. Many of the points Kelly suggested about individuals seeking independence by hooking up, is also something that I can see taking prevalent significance on campuses. Even though I am aware of individuals that partake in the actions of hooking up, and even seem to benefit in similar way that the articles suggest, I felt that this article was making very broad generalizations to the college aged generations. Yes, it is a fact that this type of culture is exponentially becoming more prevalent, but there are also many people that do not partake in it. After reading this article, it makes me think that if an older adult were to read it, or something similar, they would believe that all college aged kids are very sexual and give little importance to the idea of marriage or being with one committed partner. This idea of a hookup culture seems to give a negative connotation towards all individuals in the college age range, and an even more drastic negativity towards women. Even today, many people of strong religious backgrounds and others, believe women should be “pure” on the day of their wedding. With the knowledge on what goes on in a hookup culture, it is giving an already negative attribute to women, and increasing its severity. Women and men alike are apart of this culture, and I believe that sexist values against women are irrational. A man is equally as involved in the sexual activity as the woman, and there is no need for one party to have a larger negative connotation than the other.
Donna Freitas “Time to Stop Hooking Up. (You Know You Want to.)” First appeared as an editorial in the Washington Post in 2013. In this essay Freitas aims to convince her readers that hooking up may seem easy and less stress than a real relationship, but in reality they become unhappy, confused, and unfulfilled in their sex life. “Hookups are all about throwing off the bonds of relationships and dating for carefree sex” personal experience, compare and contrast are a few techniques Freitas skillfully uses to strong convincing essay.
Conor Kelly argues in her article, “Sexism in Practice: Feminist Ethics Evaluating the Hookup Culture” that the hookup culture is sexist and disempowers women. Although, he mentions it is difficult to define “hooking up” but majority of the students will agree that it involves “some level of sexual activity without the constraints and expectations of a relationship” (Kelly 65). In other words, when two people have casual sex with no strings attached, when they both finish they both can go on with their lives without
In the essay by Vanderkam, she says that hook ups “have all but replaced dating at most colleges” (Vanderkam 345). Some support that she uses when proving this was that she said “only half of the women .. had been on six or more dates...a third had been on no more than two” (Vanderkam 345). This shows that this is not just some fad that some kids at colleges are trying to start but rather it is something that is already implemented and has affected most college students. In the short story, Jackson was explaining how all of the citizens were coming together for the lottery when she said “The other boys soon followed his example” after she had saw one boy who had picked up some stones on the way to the lottery. Later in the day after the selection process of the lottery had been completed a person from the crowd yelled “Come on, come on, everyone” (Jackson 1243). Both of these quotes show how quickly the citizens are to listen to and follow the actions of other people. These qualities have even been taught to the children. These two texts show how people are quick to follow the lead of another and that stems down to the younger generation which means that the trait of following will only continue to grow. Also in the essay, Vanderkam said that hook ups have “pervade[d] college culture” (345). This shows
In reaction to the media’s numerous stigmas around college hookup culture in recent years, sociologists and psychologists have begun to investigate adolescent and young adult hookups more systematically. In “Is Hooking Up Bad for Young Women?” by Elizabeth A. Armstrong, Laura Hamilton and Paula England, this issue is addressed through a reaction to previous articles from sources on opposite sides. One side of the argument over sexual activity for young women places them at risk of “low self esteem, depression, alcoholism, and eating disorders,” while the other side argues that the underlying issue is the “moral panic over casual sex.” This issue has been seen by many as a “sudden and alarming change in youth sexual culture,” but systematic research has shown that experiences of young women in college
Farley in the “Norms for Just Sex” argues that social justice has accepted the norms on hooking up. “The norm derives from our obligation to respect relationally, but not only from this. It derives more generally from the obligation to respect all persons as ends in themselves, to respect their autonomy and relationally, and thus not to harm them but to support them (Farley, 228)”. This correlates with my argument that hooking up is moral based on the acceptance of society. In addition “whether persons are single or married, gay or straight, bisexual or ambiguously gendered, old or young, abled or challenge in the ordinary forms of sexual expression, they have claims to respect from the Christian community as well as the wider society (Farley, 228).” Again, this proves my argument to be right when I said that acceptance is the key to hooking up, no one really cares anymore of who you are, what you do, and how you do it, as long as you can accept one another hooking up is the norm of
As stated in the book, “college students have much to teach about sex” (8). That is because the values, ideologies, and worldviews of the students are representative of greater American culture. Although flawed, hookup culture on American campuses hold the possibility of accepting a culture of inclusivity, care, pleasure, and freedom while also rejecting predatory behavior, racism, classism, and abuse. Dismissing hookup culture all together is blind to the reality that young adults are going to have sex, and since sex is non-negotiable, one’s aim should be to foster open dialogue and critical thought onto a future where everyone enjoys the ability to freely explore sexuality, sex, and gender on their own
Donna Freitas in The End of Sex gives her thoughts on how hookup culture is affecting specifically college students. Her judgment comes out of a space where she wants, “to empower them (participants in hookups) to seek the kinds of relationships they want…” (16). Though her perspective comes from a good place, her argument has points that are shaming, archaic, dismissive, and one sided. Her argument seems to be that of a pro-woman stance at times, neglecting one of the key feminism ideals of choice. Freitas uses patriarchal arguments to back up her ideas, tarnishing her perspectives that come off as woman empowering. The book, The End of Sex, neglects to be conscious of female independence
When you hear the term “hooking up” you generally think of a sexual encounter with a stranger, but as explained in the book Hooking Up: Dating, Sex, and Relationships on Campus by Kathleen Bogle, this is not the true definition of the term because there is no true definition of the word. Bogle effectively addresses the social issue of hooking up as well as accurately addresses the ambiguity of the term itself in her book as he goes through the history of dating and how things have progressively changed over the last 115 years as well as the atmosphere of the college campus and how it is ideal for hooking up. She moves into the actual hook up and what exactly that consists of, next into the biases between the sexes and then into relationships after college and how they differ from the ones in college.
Young adults in college typically are not looking for commitment, but rather a positive sexual experience. Two outlets for this preference are friends with benefits (FWB) and hookups. Hookups involve two people engaging in sexual activity with the foreknowledge that there are “no strings attached”. For people who actively avoid commitment, and emotional involvement hookups are preferential. This is because the two can engage in meaningless sex for the sake of pleasure. I remember once reading a New York Times article that calls hookups appealing because they are low cost, low investment engagements. Factors such as the false consensus effect, social media, and the modern collegian attitude influence the
Traditionally, sex was to happen after couples got married and the main purpose for reproduction of the human race. With time sex has evolved into today’s culture with the act of a “hookup,” which represents a marked shift in openness and acceptance of uncommitted sex that collaborates with physical and sexual attractions. Even though sex has become acceptably casual within society there are still those who value the meaning of sex and can only express it with one person because they both feel the same way emotionally. An regardless sex will always create a beautiful creation.
Hooking up was once used mostly when referring to your college days. But, scarily enough, it is now leaking into the young teen population. Newfound technology is allowing teens to meet for one reason and one reason only-casual sex. Many cases of these hookups going wrong are surfacing on the internet, and have horrific outcomes. Hookup culture is becoming more rampant with newfound teen dating apps, that are practically an open door way for sex. It’s harming the youth of today through forms of instant gratification and mind-numbing guilt. Not to mention physical dangers such as rape or a STD.
This article first goes on to describe how feminist and writers are talking about how girls want to appeal to men. It is common for girls to show up to a party with the intentions of “looking hot” in the eyes of men. This can bring on casual hookups. This can cause women and men to eliminate dating and reverting to “hooking up”. The article describes how many believe that younger ages are having more casual sex than their parents did at that age, and this is false. In my opinion, I disagree. I always hear of individuals loosing their virginity at lower ages as I grow older. College students participate in more casual hookups, and “69 percent of heterosexual students had been in a college relationship of at least six months”. These relationships
Kelly presents several interconnected elements to support his argument that the “Hookup” culture, commonly found on college campuses is morally problematic. Kelly defines a hookup as the practice of pursuing a sexual activity without any expectation of a relationship. He also provides four other requirements to help narrow down his definition of hookup culture. These requirements are, lack of commitment, acceptance of ambiguity, a role with alcohol, and social pressure to conform. These elements when paired with sexual activity outside of a relationship generate the potential for gender power struggle, abuse, manipulation and inequality.
In the Rape culture, rape is common ruled out because of the hookup activities among college students. Female are common blamed for getting themselves rape when it is the rapists responsibility. When a female have multiple hookups within her college experiences she is consider as a “‘ho’ and she’s not as quality of a person” (Armstrong, Hamilton, and England 2010). This plays as a double standard and gender inequality. Female also focus on pleasing the opposite sex during the hookup to be view as sex appeal figure. With this concept, the female put the male feeling first and disregard her self-image. If the hookup ends up bad, the female could possibly become depressed or have low self-esteem because she did not achieve her goal of satisfying the
Paul, E. L., & Hayes, K. A. (2002). The casualties of “casual” sex: A qualitative exploration of the phenomenology of college students’ hookups. Journal of personal and Social Relationships, 19, 639-661.