Lots of things change when you turn eighteen. New opportunities arise! You can buy lottery tickets, you can get a tattoo, you can vote, and yes, you are finally old enough to go to a nightclub. Although society has deemed you old enough to "get yo' freak on," what you may not be prepared for are the struggles that come with this newly found freedom, especially if you are a female. Below are just a few struggles that girls face when venturing out into the untamed, uncensored environment that is "the club."
1. What do you wear
As with most any activity girls partake in, the first problem that arises is the ever important question of what to wear. Especially if you are new to nightlife, the struggle to find the perfect outfit is oh so real. There is no perfect answer, because the art of "club" dress is not an exact science. There are several questions that need to be answered before choosing the appropriate garments for a night out. The first question: what type of club is it? If you are going to line-dance, your little black dress may not be the best choice. The second question: what is the weather, and will I be comfortable in this? If it is cold, leave the crop tops at home. Furthermore, if you are wearing something you don't feel awesome in or are actually physically uncomfortable in, you can't possibly have the night of your life. The third and final question that needs to be asked is this: what are my friends wearing? If you are a female, odds are you have asked this question more than a few times in your life. It doesn't matter whether we are going to a bonfire, a Zumba class, or out to dinner, knowing what the rest of the squad is wearing is the most important factor when facing a closet full of options and a long night ahead. Whether you're Finding the perfect balance between your inner Britney Spears and T. Swift can be a challenge, but with time and some trial and error, you will find your perfect club outfit.
2. The "nightlife"
Contrary to what many popular movies today may lead you to believe, nightclubs are not limited exclusively to what most would consider "normal" people. Business is business and as long as they pay the cover fee, even the weirdos are allowed to get their freak on just like you. So what if their dance moves are a little unorthodox and they smell kind of funny? Although it can sometimes lead to some awkward encounters, most of the time these people are pretty harmless, and just like all our parents told us growing up, "if you don't bother it, it won't bother you."
3. Knowing the right moves
The twenties had swing. The fifties had the hand jive. The sixties had disco. Today, we have twerking. Thank you, Miley Cyrus. Unfortunately, not all young women desire to shake their money-makers like they have fire ants dwelling in their pants. Unfortunately, like all bad trends, we must weather the storm until they are but faint memories that we will remember 30 years from now and wonder to ourselves why we ever did that in the first place.
4. Dance partners
Somewhere between The Beach Boys "Do You Wanna Dance" and T-Pains, "Booty Work" the art of asking someone to dance was tragically lost to the majority of today's generation. While there are a few brave souls out there, the majority of the male population has developed several innovative strategies to convey that they may or may not want you to bust a move with them. One of the most popular methods is to walk by their female target and casually brush by them while "unintentionally" placing their hands on said target's hip area. Some may mistake this tactic for groping a stranger, but in fact, it is the new technique used by many to catch a dance partner.
5. Knowing how to avoid dance partners
With today's men developing new strategies on how get someone to dance with them, women are forced to be equally innovative on how to avoid dancing with a total stranger. Luckily, a simple technique in the form of a dance move was quickly invented to thwart unwanted partner dancing. All young women are familiar with this tactic, and even if they aren't, it is simple enough that one of your friends can save you from three minutes of awkwardness without even meaning to. All you have to do is grab your friend's hand, give them a smile, and while still remaining covert through continual shimmying... you switch places on the dance floor! While many may argue this is an unfair method, without direct questions there can be no direct answers. On the bright side, no egos were damaged in this little exchange.
Everyone needs an occasional night out. Even with all of the difficulties that come with it, spending the night dancing with friends is a great stress reliever. After the evening is over, and you are nestled back into your comfy bed wearing your favorite sweatpants, you may absentmindedly question whether the fun outweighed the few awkward interactions you experienced. Most likely, it did, but the answer doesn't really matter. We'll all end up venturing out into the wild again, anyway.
