2008 Woodie Awards
RSSStudent's writing objectifies women
Letter to the editor
By Kathleen Gillen, '08 and Christine Tucker, '08
Issue date: 11/9/07 Section: Opinion
Throughout Laura Johnson's article "Student self-publishes book about adolescence" (Nov. 6, 2007) about Brian Walker's book, "The Hurt, the Horny, the High School Nerd," she tells readers, "No judging." But we are so disturbed, we feel the need to judge.
When we first read Johnson's article, we were excited to see the work a fellow Lehigh student produced and published. But what we found left us very unsettled. Granted, we only have access to an excerpt of Walker's book online, but our reaction to this section was severe.
As women at Lehigh, we question The Brown and White's discretion, and wanted to write a letter of caution to Walker and those who share and indulge his sexist fantasies and rationale. Walker assumes all high school girls have "kinky fantasies" and these fantasies can only be fulfilled by "nerds," not by "jocks with premature ejaculation problems." He assumes the women who do not choose him as a sexual partner are materialistic sluts and he calls a girl a "ho" because "she gave it up freely to everyone except me!" Basically, he blames a woman for deciding to have sex only with people of her choice.
We are even more troubled by Walker's sexual fantasies. While fantasies are perfectly normal and healthy, his cross the line because they objectify women. At one point, Walker says, "I continued to feel her on top of me until I made her get on all fours."
Excuse me? He made her? Forcing a woman to do anything, especially sexually, is never acceptable. In fact, the entire excerpt centers on his belief that he deserves to have sex with women. He implies that girls reject "nerds" because of their social standing, but our guess is that girls rejected him for other reasons. Walker also admits he sought a relationship with a particular girl because she had a "reputation as a real freak." Hmm. Does a woman's personality or intelligence factor in at all?
As a minority, Walker likely knows how it feels to be discriminated against, so we urge him to re-think his views toward women. They are more than objects that exist purely for his sexual fulfillment. Most importantly, we are saddened by the fact that The Brown and White gave attention to this particular student. We are all for students who take the initiative to express themselves and celebrate their unique experiences, and we understand why The Brown and White wanted to call attention to Walker's ambition. But it is important to recognize that the content of his book (at least in the excerpt available online) is insulting and creepy.
We do not support an author who has such a sense of entitlement when it comes to women and neither should Lehigh's school newspaper. To Walker and all those who feel like him, perhaps some further self-examination is in order. Stop blaming the jocks, the supposedly materialistic women and your "nerd" status, and start considering your sexist notion that you have the right to be with any woman you desire.
When we first read Johnson's article, we were excited to see the work a fellow Lehigh student produced and published. But what we found left us very unsettled. Granted, we only have access to an excerpt of Walker's book online, but our reaction to this section was severe.
As women at Lehigh, we question The Brown and White's discretion, and wanted to write a letter of caution to Walker and those who share and indulge his sexist fantasies and rationale. Walker assumes all high school girls have "kinky fantasies" and these fantasies can only be fulfilled by "nerds," not by "jocks with premature ejaculation problems." He assumes the women who do not choose him as a sexual partner are materialistic sluts and he calls a girl a "ho" because "she gave it up freely to everyone except me!" Basically, he blames a woman for deciding to have sex only with people of her choice.
We are even more troubled by Walker's sexual fantasies. While fantasies are perfectly normal and healthy, his cross the line because they objectify women. At one point, Walker says, "I continued to feel her on top of me until I made her get on all fours."
Excuse me? He made her? Forcing a woman to do anything, especially sexually, is never acceptable. In fact, the entire excerpt centers on his belief that he deserves to have sex with women. He implies that girls reject "nerds" because of their social standing, but our guess is that girls rejected him for other reasons. Walker also admits he sought a relationship with a particular girl because she had a "reputation as a real freak." Hmm. Does a woman's personality or intelligence factor in at all?
As a minority, Walker likely knows how it feels to be discriminated against, so we urge him to re-think his views toward women. They are more than objects that exist purely for his sexual fulfillment. Most importantly, we are saddened by the fact that The Brown and White gave attention to this particular student. We are all for students who take the initiative to express themselves and celebrate their unique experiences, and we understand why The Brown and White wanted to call attention to Walker's ambition. But it is important to recognize that the content of his book (at least in the excerpt available online) is insulting and creepy.
We do not support an author who has such a sense of entitlement when it comes to women and neither should Lehigh's school newspaper. To Walker and all those who feel like him, perhaps some further self-examination is in order. Stop blaming the jocks, the supposedly materialistic women and your "nerd" status, and start considering your sexist notion that you have the right to be with any woman you desire.
