To Immature College Boys,

You were given chance upon chance upon chance to change. In high school, society chalked your malicious behavior up to not being adults yet. They chalked your crude mindset up to boys thinking how boys do. Chalked your cutting words up to the hope that you would mature in college.

But society is still waiting.

There can be many causes of this lack of maturity. The oh so important need to appear superior amongst peers too often takes precedence of the reasoning necessary to being a respectful, decent human. You know these people: they go out of their way to show off, constantly craving the last laugh and bragging rights. Patriarchal stereotypes have forced them into outperforming not only girls but fellow guys as well. Slut shaming, partying with the goal of blacking out in mind, and generally acting rude are defining qualities I have noticed during my time at high school and now college. These are the types of guys that think they want this lifestyle for themselves.

Then, there are guys that don’t.

There are guys who are too afraid to admit they enjoy any aspect of femininity, so their defense is to be outspokenly macho. They feel they need shelter from displaying who they truly are. Inside of this supposedly dominant male lives a fearful individual too afraid to enjoy any stereotypically womanlike activity.

My advice to both of these people is to be yourselves. Be soft. Be caring. Advocate for peace and feminism and every other worthy cause you believe in. Openly love your family and friends and anyone who brings out the best in you. Emotions are not embarrassing, nor is bottling them healthy. At the end of the day, compassion is more memorable, meaningful, and enriching than being a tough guy in the long run.