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You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / ‘Marriage Factory’ stereotype promoted

‘Marriage Factory’ stereotype promoted

February 19, 2003 by Melanie J. Knox

By Melanie J. Knox, Opinion Editor

As I Wish

I promise that I am not a feminist. It’s great that women can vote and have equality in the workplace, but I haven’t ever been the one on the picket line screaming in the streets. And I’m still not.

However, when it comes to Sing Song, I noticed something a little ironic about the themes of the two largest women’s club acts. Bridesmaids and housewives. We’ll come back to that.

Stereotypically, ACU is known as a “marriage factory.” Women supposedly (and probably) come to school here for the sole purpose of an MRS degree.

We have “Marriage and Family” week in Chapel. Seminars and lectures are conducted for couples only. Just last week, campus notes sent out an e-mail entitled, “Engaged?”

Preparation is great. I’m so glad that ACU cares about people entering into marriage. That’s important.

The funny thing about the jokes and stereotypes is, of course, that they are usually half true.

This is evidenced by the previously cited examples, and now, as icing on the cake, Sing Song as well.

I want to get married someday, and being a housewife might be fun too. Placing these things in the “Infinite Joy” category, however, rings a little bit differently.

The junior class act that I am a part of classifies infinite joy as “Nutcrackers.” Granted, this isn’t my idea of infinite joy either, and neither is traveling, the Beatles and certainly not golf. To get right down to it, at a Christian university, we should all be doing Sing Song acts about our salvation stories and eternity. That could obviously be strange and I am certainly not suggesting we do that.

All I am doing is merely pointing out the irony in a large number of students who, wittingly or unwittingly, chose Sing Song acts that push a stereotype and this, I think, is funny.

Don’t mistake this column as bashing the clubs. They sound great and their acts are very cute, and I actually think the housewives do become business-women in the end.

But this weekend when you’re stressed about school and stressed about perfecting infinite joy, don’t be afraid to smile at the irony of a good joke.

Filed Under: Columns

Other Opinion:

  • Not-so-friendly competition

  • Sing Song in the Expo Center presents an exciting opportunity

  • Micro-trends are a danger to Gen Z and the planet

About Melanie J. Knox

You are here: Home / Opinion / Columns / ‘Marriage Factory’ stereotype promoted

Other Opinion:

  • Not-so-friendly competition

  • Sing Song in the Expo Center presents an exciting opportunity

  • Micro-trends are a danger to Gen Z and the planet

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