Sexism Invades Senior Lounge
by Tori FlanneryWhen asked if girls should be allowed into the Senior Lounge, Wyatt Sparks screamed, “WHAT?! Get out of here!”
It is the mentality of Sparks and certain other Senior boys that has caused a feeling amongst members of the Senior Class that there is sexism within the walls of the Senior Lounge.
The Lounge, a small room within the Cafeteria, is graced with the presence of extra lunch tables pushed against the walls, a poorly upholstered couch, and Nintendo video game consoles attached to a TV. The purpose of the space is for the Senior Class to have a place for themselves. The entire Senior Class, though, has not been welcome in the Lounge.
Some Senior boys, who yell if a girl approaches the Lounge or perhaps walks into the small area, have expressed their concerns about a female’s presence in the Lounge.
“A girl playing video games is like a guy wearing makeup…it’s just not right,” James Donner said.
The Senior Lounge, however, is not just a place for Seniors to play video games. All Seniors are granted the privilege of having a Lounge and because Senior boys create an unwelcoming atmosphere, Senior girls feel that they are unwanted in the room. It is very rare when one sees a Senior girl muster up enough confidence to walk into the Lounge. Still, there is one Senior girl who is not afraid to comfortably sit on the heinous looking, yellow couch.
Izzy Rogers has been seen in the Senior Lounge and has said that she only goes into the Lounge with certain people.
“No one really says anything to me about going in there but some guys will make you feel like you shouldn’t be in there,” Rogers said.
Rogers may be speaking of the intense competiveness between some Senior boys while playing “Mario Kart” and “Super Smash Brothers.” The aggression within the Senior Lounge is apparent in the way in which Sparks speaks of his mindset during a game.
“When I’m in the game, all I think about is winning. I don’t care who is in it,” he said.
Luke Devlin, another Senior boy who frequents the Lounge believes that it isn’t just the competitive atmosphere that is not fitting for girls.
“They can’t handle the extreme amount of profanity spoken in the lounge,” Devlin explained.
Although Senior boys kindly warn of aggressive competitions and profanity, sexism within the small room is obvious.
Erin Hackett, a Senior girl who has only been in the Lounge once, said, “I think girls should be allowed in but I don’t know if girls really want to be in there.”
Charlotte Minetti said, “I have never even stepped foot in there and I really have never thought of going to the Lounge.”
In addition to the unwelcoming atmosphere that the Senior boys create, there is a lack of enthusiasm from the Senior girls to even enter the Lounge. Although it would be nice to blame the Senior boys for the lack of girls in the Lounge, the Senior girls have not displayed enough interest in sitting or “Karting” in the Lounge. If girls want to participate in lounging on the couch and Karting with boys, they probably should take Izzy Rogers’ approach. Rogers has successfully ignored obnoxious comments from Lounge regulars.
Unlike most Senior boys, Trent Emmanuel welcomes all girls into the Lounge.
“Well if they want to see me dominate, then they can grab a seat and take notes,” Emmanuel said.
