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Putting a Face to Theta (or Not to Theta)
By
Cristina Abellan-Matamoros
February 7, 2013
What 5 girls from the female student body at Swarthmore answered when they were asked if they had joined the new chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta on campus.
5
February 8, 2013 at 8:08 am
*5 women
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Jeffrey Lott
February 8, 2013 at 10:19 am
“Five girls from the female student body…”
As a longtime writer and editor on campus, I tend to notice changes in usage and language, such as the various forms of “Swat.” The reappearance of “girls” after several decades of referring to “members of the female student body” as “women,” is curious. I noticed use of the same word in this week’s Phoenix, in another piece about Theta.
I also noticed that this isn’t how members of the sorority refer to themselves in these videos. They consistently talk about “women” on campus and how Theta will provide a space for women to do lots of positive things for themselves and the college. May that be so!
Of course, all women were once girls, just as I was once a boy. Where the transition to “woman” or “men” occurs is different depending on the culture and circumstances. Some of the women and men who are fighting in Afghanistan are 18 or 19 years old—and no one would call them “girls” of “boys.” Yet the DG and Phoenix use the juvenile term to describe some fellow students.
I’m not criticizing this. Just noticing that over my 22 years at Swarthmore, the language of students has changed in interesting ways. Just more food for thought on a campus that abounds with such intellectual comestibles….
Jeff Lott
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Marian '14
February 8, 2013 at 11:05 am
Thanks for this–very well thought out and exactly what I have been thinking. Perhaps if the Thetas used this language to discuss themselves, it *might* sit better with me. I’ve noticed that “girls” does seem to be used more frequently than “women” as a general term, but that this especially true when referring to the Theta women. I think that in general, this might be something for the Editors to start paying more attention to. I know that you are not doing it deliberately to belittle me and other Swat women, but at this point in my life I have begun to feel belittled when referred to as a “girl” by anyone younger than my parents. (Which has no great philosophical significance!–just the arbitrary fact of my own experience.) Maybe in the future this might be something to consider?
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NELSON BIRKLAND
February 10, 2013 at 3:12 am
This is pedantic as fuck
Hot debate. What do you think?
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thomas
February 8, 2013 at 12:06 pm
Editors: Why are the 5 answers not shown when you click on this article link? Nothing appears.
Max Nesterak
February 8, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Hi Thomas,
There should be a vimeo video that appears embedded in the story. It’s working on my end, but you can also watch it directly on vimeo. Here’s the link: http://vimeo.com/59202351
Thanks,
Max Nesterak ’13
Co-Editor in Chief
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