Dear Males of Temple University,

This past spring semester, I have had the pleasure of studying abroad in London. There were so many great and memorable moments throughout my time in the UK that I wish I could share, but I know majority of you don’t really care. It was definitely a culture shock coming back from London to the USA. Everything was fine and it didn’t really hit me that I was back home until my first day back on campus.

As I was strolling through Temple’s campus and embraced all the cherry and white, a young sir caught my attention from a distance. My right eye began to twitch as I looked upon a young man probably on his way to class wearing sweatpants. This came as a shock to me, because in the UK you will not see anyone wearing sweatpants. Everyone basically dresses casually or business-like attire. You will rarely see someone wearing sweatpants and if they are, they’re probably a tourist who’s quietly being shamed by the natives. ANYWAYS that was when the culture shock came in like a wrecking ball. (Miley Cyrus pun intended. I am so sorry, but I had to do it. She’s the worst, I know.) Then it brought me back to a moment I shared with my friend Nydia on the beaches of the UK.

Whilst sitting on the rocky beach of Brighton attempting to steal a sweet kiss from the sun, I looked around the beach and began to people watch. I saw couples cuddling and kissing each other, I saw friends sharing drinks and laughing with each other, and I watched as a random group of people watched my friends and I throw stones at used beer bottles to see who can knock one over first because, America. Am I right? Anyways, as I looked around and sulked about the fact that I have to return to our broken country I began spitting off with my friend Nydia the things I’ll miss most about the UK. I noticed something pleasing to mine eyes as I continued to people watch while talking to my friend about the joys of London. Nydia, like the good friend she is, listened and laughed when I finally said, “ I’m going to miss the well dressed gentlemen that are surrounding me.” Then I began to go off on this long dialogue that I’m pretty sure I memorized word for word….

Look around Nydia… look around, look around, at how lucky we are to be alive right now. (Hamilton pun intended!) We’re literally just sitting on a beach and these beautiful men are still dressed like these Grecian gods! Look at his shoes! Look at this guy wearing a button up. And this guy... This guy’s haircut is literally the reason why I breathe. Like you think I’m kidding, but like I’m really going to miss this. Men taking the time out of their lives to dress like Kings even though they’re just here, sitting on a beach. We won’t get this back home. We’ll have to go back to men who wear sweatpants and shorts 25/8… I’m sick of it.

Maybe not the exact words but… close enough. Anyways, Nydia nodded and laughed in agreement to my above statement and because I will do anything for a gag, I continued on….

It’s funny because guys are always the first to make a comment about the way a female looks. Like you see all the videos and comments on youtube, or facebook and twitter posts where men are always waiting by the keyboard ready to set females on fire because of their makeup (or lack thereof) or outfits. Don’t even get me started on the many award shows where women get trashed for their outfits, girl….

I’m pretty sure you can guess how this conversation continued on as I rant about the lack of equality in the world. But, to go back to the overall issue at hand, I just need the males of America to do better, or for the men of Temple University to be the change. Trust and believe, I know that I’m throwing you in and generalizing all men, I know and I’m not sorry about it this time. But still, it’s a reoccurring issue that I took the time out to write about it.

It upsets me because we females are out here… In these streets... Trying to slay the game (not looking for approval from ya’ll if you guys were wondering) and you males are out here throwing on sweatpants and a T-shirt...and I’m sick of it! I can’t keep quiet about it anymore. It’s funny because those are usually the type of men that are ready to make multiple comments about a female's outfit and clearly have no right to talk. Seriously though, is it that hard to throw on a pair of jeans? Or a pair of crisp slacks? Is it really that hard to wake up an extra 15 minutes to find an appropriate outfit for the day?

Like trust me I get it. Sometimes I don’t feel like wearing clothes and I would just throw on a pair of yoga pants or something because I want to be comfortable, but I don’t do that mess everyday. I don’t expect you beautiful men of the States to change immediately, but something's got to give. Be the change. Be the start of something new! (High School Musical pun intended!) Don’t do this for me, do this for yourself… PLEASE! Treat yo’ self! (Parks and Rec reference intended)

Sincerely,