OPINIONS Women and the Priesthood Why I won't wear pants to church We cannot simply demand things of the Church and its leaders and expect to get the desire of our hearts. By Brittany M. Plothow Opinions Editor @brittanyplo The Ordain Women movement is stupid. I fancy myself a feminist, but I often have to follow that sentiment up with a qualifier. I'm not that kind of feminist. Feminism has been twisted and molested from what it once was. The feminist movement originally aimed for equality between the sexes, especially when it came to voting, land ownership, sexual objectification and oppression, which I'm very glad for. As a liberal woman, I'm very grateful for my forbearers and their passion which has granted me many opportunities I would not have had one hundred or even fifty years ago. Todays twisted feminism is one of a scowl and brash voice that all but forces men into a corner. Recently, I was sitting in a classroom talking about gender issues. The male student presenting stated that he refuses to open doors for the ladies, even on a date. He also said that if his date waits outside of the car for him to open the door he will do the same next time they are getting into the car and make her open his door. My blood boiled. I raised my hand and argued that he was being disrespectful. He shot back at me that he was simply treating everyone equally. I came back with the argument that holding the door for someone is a sign of respect so he was in fact disrespecting his date and therefore there was no equality at all. Now, I understand what this guy is trying to argue, I just don't agree with it. I've seen with my own two eyes women who scoff or bark at a man holding the door for them, sneering that they can hold their own doors. Which is true. The reason why I allow men to hold the door for me isn't because my limp noodle arms can't do it themselves, because they can. It's because I view it as a kind gesture and a sign of respect for my womanhood. Which, as a feminist, I adore. Yes, we still have very far to go when it comes to equality in the job market and in sexual objectification. Just read "Fifty Shades of Grey" or listen to "Blurred Lines" and you'll see sexual equality has a long way to go. On second thought, please don't read "Fifty Shades of Grey." Ew. I recall the first time I heard about the Ordain Women movement and all the sillies wearing pants to church. I laughed out loud and then asked myself, "Have these women never been to the temple?" If these women were paying any kind of attention in the temple they would realize they are arguing a moot point. Another issue that makes me chuckle a bit is those groups petitioning to attend the Priesthood Session of General Conference. Ladies, it's online. Live. You can watch it whilst sitting next to your very own priesthood holder. Or alone. By drawing attention to yourselves and creating a distraction, you basically sealed your own fate on not getting into the priesthood session. PRIESTHOOD By Jimmy Hall @Jimmyrhall With the new semester here syllabi are being handed to us at the beginning of every first day of class. As we look through the pages we bypass the classroom procedures, the assignment details and head straight towards the brass tacks: how we are being graded. Depending on the professor and section, there are assignments, essays, tests and that one crucial percentage that can either make you an A student or a C student: the "required" participation. Some professors make it a small fraction of your final grade. „.0 But in the classroom there's a three way relationship: you, your professor and your grades. What you do or don't do will affect the very thing you're here to get: a passing grade. Professors have every right to set the certain expectations of what he or she considers a passing grade. But do they have right to have their students come to class day in and day out? As stated before, consequences are continued to be taught here at uni- Opinions Editor @brittanyplo GOOD GIRL A8 ■■ ■ Assistant Opinions Editor By Brittany M. Plothow GRADE A7 HERE! for the gra:pf It's our responsibility to either come to class or not. Society, double standards, and sexual expression versity. If we show up to class or not will have a certain outcome associated with it. Let's talk about those consequences for a second. Without an attendance grade the student will be punished for not having the necessary information required in order to pass the future quizzes and tests. With an attendance grade, a student will be rightfully punished by not getting that knowledge. But at the end of the semester those absent attendance points create a hole in their final grade. Isn't it enough to not gain the knowledge you need to succeed without the extra punishment of the attendance grade? A7 Maybe 5-10 percent. But some are so strict they may make it upwards of 15-20 percent. In my time at UVU, most—if not all—professors had this grade as part as their final scoring. Now, I understand that most of the learning happens inside of the classroom, but I also can't help feeling like I'm back in high school again. There, we were kids. It was required by law to be in the classroom, otherwise our parents would be called and we would get grounded or other such chastisement. In college we are treated like adults. It's our responsibility to either come to class or not. College is the perfect environment to learn about cause and effect. Choices and consequences. If you don't go to sleep at an early hour, you'll be tired the next morning. If you don't get a job, then it's Ramen Noodles for you. Pimps and good girls There remains a social double standard when it comes to men, women and expression of personal sexuality. Media is the biggest factor in social constructions and expressions of sexuality. If we take a look at music we easily see this double standard. It is a common appearance to see women portrayed as backdrops or playthings in music videos and spoken of in extremely derogatory terms within the music itself. This is seen commonly within the R&B and hip-hop music scenes. The images we witness on the television screen undoubtedly affect how we treat each other, thus negative images about women and their sexuality perpetuate this societal issue. It is often seen within popular culture and music that a man may be referred to as a "pimp" in positive terms. The origination of the word pimp is far from positive. It dates back to the 17th century and meant then, as it does now, a male person who arranges for sexual intercourse between a client, also known as a "John" and a prostitute. The verb "to pimp" is known to mean variations of the following: dressing seductively, dress up elegantly, to exploit. The dictionary definition of a pimp is literally a "despicable person." Despite the negative and disturbing history and meaning behind the word "pimp" it has taken on a positive, desired social meaning in recent decades. The verb "to pimp" means making over something or someone into a more flashy and decorated version of itself. It is also used to describe men in favorable ways. It may be used when speaking of a good-looking man or one who does well in relationships with women. "Pimp" is also used to describe a lavish and impressive lifestyle. The exact opposite is true of words used to describe the women who work for pimps, or just women in general. Slurs like "whore," "slut" and "bitch" are commonly used in society, even shockingly used by a woman to describe another woman. One would hope that a fellow woman would understand the weight those words carry. In Jay-Z's song "99 Problems" he lists off things that are problems in his life but insists "a bitch ain't one," not "a girl ain't one." Another side in this social construct is clothing and how each gender chooses to present itself to society. Media teaches women to use their bodies and clothing in order tc attract male attention. Instead of attracting a man to their intelligence, society and media tells us we women must simply be "hot but dumb" for lack of better words. Laura Brotherson, author and relationship expert, coined the term "The Good Girl Syndrome" to explain a phenomenon where women are told that to enjoy sexual acts is dirty and a sin. A young lady can be brought up with such a strict view on sexuality that once she is in a committed, monogamous relationship she is unable to let go of the thought that sex is bad and enjoy a healthy sexual relationship. Instead of being given appropriate and healthy views of sexual intercourse, it is twisted into PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY LAURA FOX A mandatory attendance grade is putting us back in unneeded adolescence A6