THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 21, 1994 TAG: 9410210064
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E13 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: TEENSPEAK
SOURCE: BY LORRAINE EATON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
FOR GETTING excused from class, being a girl is a definite advantage. But in almost every other endeavor, being a female is a disadvantage.
That was the overriding consensus among six First Colonial High students at this week's Teenspeak. All four males said that being a guy gave them the edge and made life easier. One of the two girls agreed.
``I think it's easier to be a male,'' said sophomore Akeba Brown, who is 15.
Take prepping for school, for instance. ``They have to have all this time to look in the mirror and everything, they have to be perfect,'' Akeba said. ``We just comb our hair a little bit.''
``Plus they are so dramatic - their soap opera lives,'' said senior Ryan Rodriguez, 17. ``Everything is a big issue for them, especially at this school.''
And it will only get harder as females get older, said 16-year-old senior Elaine Ann Lee, adding: ``I was looking into statistics about getting into college, and I found that more white, Caucasian males are getting accepted into law school. . . . It's much harder for women and minorities.''
The lone voice of dissent was Kym Galloway, 17, a senior.
``I guess I've got to be the difficult one,'' Kym said. ``I think it's easier to be a female. . . .'' Immense egos a macho mission to be the ``high and mighty'' are ways males make it hard on themselves, Kym said.
``But there are also women who want to be the same way,'' Elaine argued. ``I am the same way. I'm an overachiever and I always like to have my way. I'm on a power trip. But it's harder to be that way for a female.''
Then conversation returned to emotions, with the guys saying that girls come to school shrouded in drama, making it hard on themselves.
``We don't come to school mad up, we just keep it in our heads,'' Akeba said.
``That's why males die earlier,'' Ryan added. ``Holding that stress in.''
``Girls let it all out,'' Akeba said. ``It's easier for us because we can hold it in. They got to let the whole world know.''
In defense of her gender, Elaine spoke out: ``It's hard not to let your emotions and your social life affect your school life. I . . . put on a face for school everyday. . . . It's the happy-you-do-well-in-school-you-overachieve-in-school face.''
``Is it a school face or is it a society face?'' Ryan asked.
A society face, the group agreed. Females, it seems, have to live up to a lot more standards, but Kym chooses to ignore them.
``I only have one face,'' Kym said. ``The one you see now is the one I come with and leave with. I don't change for anybody.''
``I try, I just can't do that,'' Elaine said. Being raised in a ``fairly strict Asian culture'' has made her competitive and eager to achieve, she said. ``But that's what makes it hard - when you try to make everybody happy, (when) you try to impress people. Be yourself everyday.''
Freshman Todd Stafford, 14, believes reverse sexism is on the rise and that males should be prepared for a change in the way society treats them.
Since the turn of the century, life has gotten easier for both sexes, said senior Brett Coates, 18. ``Ladies have gotten more liberal and know how to get what they want,'' Brett said. ``Guys just don't care''
``That's true,'' Elaine said. ``I think guys are a lot more worry-free.''
So what about the future?
``In 20 years, I think it's going to be males and females equal,'' Kym said. ``Technology is going to be smarter than everybody and computers will be way up there running everybody's life.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
by CNB