Chivalry is dead. Maybe it’s not dead everywhere, but it feels like it has disappeared completely on the Penn State campus. Sure, there might be a few nice guys hiding out, but they’re hard to come by these days. The men of Penn State seem to have forgotten the basics—holding doors open, paying for food and even engaging in meaningful conversations. Maybe the girls have their expectations set too high, but honestly, is it too much to ask for the bare minimum?
What Caused This?
It has been trending on TikTok recently that social media has killed romance, which may be true. It was said that in the olden days, before the internet, men didn’t have access to tons of beautiful women at one time. When they came across someone special, they would do their best to swoon her. However, now that boys can open up their phones to see photos of countless pretty girls, they seem to get distracted more easily.
Some might argue that this has led to inflated egos, as guys find validation online rather than in real-life interactions. It’s like they’re stuck in this “feminine era,” where traditional roles have shifted, but not necessarily in a way that promotes romance.
Penn State Experiences
Penn State can be a hub of heartbreak. Be careful about who you get your hopes up for because some of these guys have a terrible track record.
Here are some encounters that Penn State women have had with men during their college experience:
A junior girl shares, “A guy asked me to go out for drinks with him, and I thought it was a date. We ordered two drinks, and when the check came, he asked me if I could Venmo him.”
A sophomore recounts, “I was moving into my apartment building and I was holding huge boxes of stuff. A guy was ahead of me and saw me struggling. He walked into the apartment building and let the door shut behind him, leaving me standing out there.”
Another woman states, “I slept with this guy I had been talking to for a few weeks. I thought he was really into me, but after, he told me he was tired and that I should probably head home. I asked if he could give me a ride or Uber me, and he told me his Uber app was broken. I had to walk home alone at 4 a.m.”
A freshman adds, “I was supposed to hang out with this guy who had been asking me for weeks. I got all ready, and when I was about to go over, he canceled and said he had to go to his frat instead.”
After reviewing all of this, the conclusion is clear: the men at Penn State need to do better. Not all guys are bad, but every Penn State girl has had one of these encounters. It has been said that by junior or senior year, they get better, but that doesn’t always seem to be the case. Men need a lesson in the basics: hold the door open, pay for food, learn how to have a conversation and avoid sexualizing comments.
It’s as simple as that.
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