Spring Break Jump-off Pajama Party
So pajama parties aren't what they used to be. When I was in high school, a pajama party meant a night with the girls, watching 80s movies and eating ice cream and cookies late at night (mmm... ice cream...). No more. A pajama party is now an excuse for teenagers to exercise their insane little hormones while experimenting sexually with multiple partners.
Here's where the story begins--the other day, I saw my students passing around a flier for a party on the Friday of Spring Break. I'd heard some talk of this throughout the classroom, and so I was curious and asked to see the flier. Of course, my students were all like, "oh, you gonna go too, Ms. Furlong? You want to go to the jump-off party?" In my maturity, I ignored them and just took the flier, which turned out to be a bit shocking, to say the least.
Let me explain. The top of the flier stated "Spring Break Pajama Jump-off Party". Now, upon initial examination, one might think that a "Jump-off" party is just a party that starts off Spring Break with a bang. But, for those out there who aren't up on current lingo, a "Jump-off" is a girl that allows guys to jump on her and then jump right back off--a sort of modern day slut, if you will. Add the pajama in there, and it seems like a teenage male's testosterone heaven.
In addition, the flier had some other interesting notables--to one side, it said, "Girls, dress sexy" (hmm... I don't know where the girls parents are who are letting them go to a co-ed pajama slut party dressed "sexy") and to the other side, it said, "Fellas, don't start no sh!t." Literally, that's what it said. Oh, and just in case you're wondering, there was a discount on admission if you were scantily clad. Awesome.
I know that it's naive to think that these kids are anywhere as innocent as I was as a freshman in high school, but at the same time, why is it OK for girls to be sex objects at such a young age? What makes it OK for boys to objectivity these young women? How can a woman command respect from a man when she's going to a "Jump-off" party?
Kids will be kids, but that doesn't mean they can be kids without self-respect.
posted by jed & theresa @ 11:07 AM
0 comments
