Op-Ed: “Snowcoming” 2015: Moving Beyond Sexism in Sadie Hawkins

By Claira Janover

Let’s talk Homecoming. This year’s third annual Sadie Hawkins’s “Girls Ask Guys” themed homecoming, or “Snowcoming” is set for December 11. This Sadie Hawkins’s themed dance has gained popularity thanks to Student Council, which began the tradition with the first Sadie’s homecoming in 2013. It’s also popular because it’s been a way for girls to turn upside down the gender-specific tradition of boys asking girls. Or is it? As I was writing up a list of possible puns to use to ask a guy to homecoming, questions struck me: What is the history behind this dance? Isn’t a “girls ask guys” themed homecoming dance just reinforcing the gender stereotype that guys are the inherent gender expected to ask their dates to dances? Looking into the historical significance of Sadie Hawkins themed dances, I realized that there is a subtly-rooted sexism behind the existence of this particular type of dance… a sentiment that we as a society may have moved beyond but that is nonetheless still very present when exploring this history. What I mean by this is, when Sadie Hawkins was first portrayed in Al Capp’s Li’l Abner comic strip in 1937, it was a political satire mocking a woman’s role in asserting herself. Sadie’s father, who was afraid of his daughter dying alone, decreed a Sadie Hawkins Day in which unmarried gals could pursue the town’s bachelors, but only on that day. Fast-forward to modern day Sadie’s themed dances, where we see a change in the social responsibilities of gender roles on the premise that this is the one dance of the year where women can take control of what they want. This notion seems quite backwards to me considering that it suggests that there needs to be a special theme for it to be socially acceptable for girls to ask guys to a dance. It bolsters the notion that, under normal social circumstances, it is guys who should ask girls. A similar counterpart would be if there were a “Scott Hawkins” day in which girls asked guys to “make them sandwiches,” or “stay in the kitchen.” It embodies the same sexist undertone: the girl and the boy switch their proscribed gender roles as determined by society. According to the girls that I asked at Branford High School, there’s no longer a question of whether or not it’s socially acceptable for a girl to ask a guy, regardless of the circumstance. It was widely agreed that girls should feel empowered where and whenever to ask a boy out.  However the very implication that “empowered” is used to describe this action further demonstrates that, even half a century after the Sadie Hawkins’s cartoon came out, it is still somewhat of a political declaration for a girl to ask a guy out or to a dance unless made the “norm” by a Sadie’s themed dance. On the other hand, BHS’s homecoming is a dance unlike any other, in which students from all grades are allowed to attend with whomever they choose. Additionally, it’s a dance that really encourages girls to make a move they’d otherwise be hesitant to do. In fact, for many girls at BHS the Sadie’s theme is less about the delineation of gender roles, and more about celebrating the girls at BHS. “I think having a girls-ask-guys dance is a fun way to give girls a chance to be creative while also taking some pressure off the guys,” said Lily Kirby, co-president of Student Council. “It definitely creates an atmosphere where girls can take charge of their experience and be a little brave in ways they might not have otherwise. In general it’s all for fun and everyone should definitely think of some cute ways to ask other people, it’s a great way to raise school spirit and bond.” Which is true, and should be noted that, regardless of the motives behind the themed dance, the ultimate result is tons of girls turning a tradition upside-down and redefining a traditionally-gendered gesture, even if it’s largely because of the theme. Don’t mistake my criticism for this theme as a disapproval of Snowcoming at BHS. Being on Student Council, which coordinates Snowcoming, I very much support and look forward to this year’s dance. It has always been a huge boost in the school’s overall morale, a great dance that includes everyone regardless of grade, and a highly anticipated time for Instagram and social media to blow up with creative and funny homecoming proposals. Nonetheless, it’s important to understand the historically-rooted sentiments behind such a theme as Sadie Hawkins’s in hopes that in the future this type of dance is no longer necessary to compel girls to feel like they can ask boys. After all, a person’s gender should not have any bearing on whether or not they can initiate dates. Tickets are $7, and if you bring in non-perishable food items, $5. For more information about Homecoming 2015, feel free to ask anyone on Student Council or come to a meeting for yourself. Student Council meets Monday’s afterschool in the F-Wing Lecture hall.