Steven Lynch on Being the Only Male Writer for Valley Magazine

If you are looking to read a story about how our editor-in-chief Leah Polakoff tried to sacrifice me, Valley’s only male writer, in hopes to gain a heavier male readership demographic, I hate to disappoint you…but this article does not contain any of that.

This is my first semester writing for Valley and it has been such a great experience, but there were a few drawbacks. Over an exciting first semester, I took note of my struggles and have decided to compose a tell all.

I should rephrase that, I do not have any salacious gossip about the girls of Valley but I have a semi-humorous perspective about the daily struggles of being the only male writer in a female-based lifestyle magazine.

Overheard at Meetings

**Editor’s Note: names have been removed for the protection of our staff and their female struggles.

“I hate when people look at me weird when I buy tampons. What do you want me to do about it?” asked one girl at Valley’s first meeting of the semester.

To this day, I still do not know who she is, but she did me a big favor. She prepared me for what I would continue to overhear at Valley and events for the semester.

Since then, I have overheard the following at meetings and events-

“My underwire is killing me right now. It is going to be heaven once I can take this off.”

“Luckily, there is only one of you, so your name will be easy to remember.”

What the Girls Have Taught Me

I feel like I have learned more about women this semester than I have than in my entire life.  I now know that only certain body types should wear crop tops, there are many girls with a crush on a certain freshman quarterback and that there should be extra time in the day just for applying makeup.

In fact, I have learned so much I have practically become one, according to the Valley email list.  Whenever Valley plans an event such as a dinner or a trip to the movies they send out the information via email.  At the end of every email it is expressed that, this will be a great opportunity to “get to know the girls.”

Over the course of my semester with Valley, I have not only learned so much more about fashion, culture and style, but I have experienced what amazing accomplishments passionate women can do when they put their hearts and minds together.

In my opinion, there is a high probability that the rest of the university sees only female writers for this magazine. But now you know there is one male.  In the end, I just hope that they don’t credit me as Stephanie Lynch.

Photo by Sam Florio