My sorority sisters and I have been anticipating the release of "Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising” for quite some time now. What I did predict was the fictitious stereotyping of Greek Life, which was present, no surprises there. But what I didn’t expect was that feminism was weaved into the plot. A popular mainstream movie took an arguably not so popular movement and put a refreshing comical spin on it. The movie was unexpectedly pro-feminist. The women didn’t end up with a guy; they ended up with a sisterhood. Which is a message that speaks volumes.
But, before I applaud the movie for this, I must note that while women were portrayed as empowered, fraternity men were plastered with quite possibly the worst stereotype there is: rapists. This is a label that I know hurts fraternity men personally. And it is far, far worse than the bimbo, girly girl typecast allocated to sororities. I attend a so-called “party school,” Arizona State, and as a member of Greek life I can attest that fraternity parties are far from how they are depicted in that movie. The men aren’t all creepy. They are more often than not, our friends.
I too entered my weekends in college with skepticism and the consumption of only unopened beers. But over time I really got to know men in various organizations. We partnered with them for philanthropies and took them to date parties. They really aren’t the “villains” the movie portrays them to be. Campus sexual assault is a current major issue; I’m not deflecting this. But painfully stereotyping certainly doesn’t help the cause. You don’t have to drag someone down to lift another up (as many “feminists” forget when asserting their views).
That being said, “yoga hos and workout bros” and “office hos and CEOs” parties do very much still exist. And as Zac Efron’s character memorably stated: calling girls hos isn’t cool anymore. It’s time more of us stood up for this instead of just brushing it off as a meaningless play on word. I think this was another important message. I personally don’t go to fraternity parties with those titles anymore. And I urge college women to do the same. We hold the power. If we’re not attending these parties fraternities will catch on.
As for my personal views, I support most but not all feminist values, and I will openly admit that. This is because I recognize that there are gender norms that are ingrained in me, ones that contradict the definition of feminism. I like chivalry. I like it when a man offers to treat me to dinner, even if I do insist on splitting the check (it’s the thought that counts). Side note: I do like supporting myself and buying my own drinks without feeling like I owe anyone a conversation. And I want to earn financial success, not marry it. But I’d like to be in an even playing field with men. That being said, I'll be honest and say I do appreciate the occasional free things that comes with being a woman. We definitely pay for it with the money we spend on grooming products. But unlike "Neighbors 2", I can be pro-woman without being anti-men. And I think that’s the next step in continuing the momentum of feminism.
