We've all heard of slut-shaming—you know, putting a girl (or guy) down because of their sexuality, who and/or how many people he or she has had sex with.
Well, I found myself having these same feelings over the weekend while having a conversation with some of my friends (and some people I hardly knew). We were discussing our college majors when I realized I was being "major-shamed."
I'm a communication major, concentrating in public relations and journalism (*insert comment about how easy my major is here*), and I go to a school that has a very prominent reputation for being a backup school that's better known for its parties than its academics. So, when I say I'm a comm major the usual reaction is usually an awkward judge-y laugh with an even more awkward "Oh, okay."
Why?
Why is it frowned upon to be a comm major? "What are you even going to do with a degree in that?" Are people who are nursing majors, business majors, or pre-med better than me? Does studying communication as opposed to these other more "promising" majors mean I'm going to make less money or be less successful? F**k no.
I came to college to find something I love to do and that I'm also good at so that I won't want to drive off a cliff every day while I'm on the way to work. I didn't come here to impress anyone with a fancy major that sounds good when I introduce myself.
This article doesn't just go for comm majors, as I think a lot of students often feel that people don't take their areas of study seriously. Education, dance, and art majors all face the struggle of having to justify their decision to study something they love—and for what? I say let's stop justifying; be more conscious of what you say to others about their college major—because every CEO needs a good comm major to handle their company's PR crises.
