In a culture where “chivalry is dead” and women have become more independent, it may seem archaic that it is pretty much required for guys to ask girls to the prom, but I disagree.

Girls almost unanimously look forward to prom, whereas guys could really care less. It’s the one day of the year where the attention is all on her, so I don’t think the fact that the guy asks reinforces gender roles or takes away from the girl’s experience in any way. As the guy, you’re more bowing to her than you are escorting her.

Most of the time when the guy asks, it probably wasn’t his idea in the first place. As I mentioned before, the girls are in total control of prom; they have a monopoly. Usually students will go to the prom as a group, with the girls deciding who goes with whom. However, the guy still has to ask, often in spectacular fashion. Not because the girl can’t ask, but because it’s all about making her feel like the queen for that day. As a guy, I don’t mind that, though; once you actually get to the prom, it’s just a big mosh pit anyway.

All of this said, it doesn’t mean the girl can’t ask. It’s great that we live in America and women enjoy all the freedoms and equalities this country provides, and if they want to ask, they’re obviously free to do so. From a guy’s perspective, though, I don’t think that I would personally like to be the one being asked. I’d rather be the one putting the pressure on to say yes, not receiving that pressure, as selfish as that may sound. As Coach Keating says, it’s better to be the hammer than the nail.

For as much as I have said about how guys don’t really care about the prom, and as far as pictures, dinner and all that go, I really don’t care. But finding a creative way to ask a girl to the prom is actually kind of fun. Also, it is cool to see people you usually only see in jeans and polo “hit the folks” in a prom dress. So, I guess prom’s not all that bad, and I think the tradition of the guy asking the girl is fun for both involved. Therefore, Christina Cook do you want to go to the prom with me?

It’s that time of year again, when students start asking people to the annual Christmas prom.

One of the most memorable times in everyone’s high school career is going to the prom. Prom-goers get to hang out with friends, dance and have fun. One of the most important parts of prom is the date. The way it usually goes is the guy asks the girl, but things are starting to change. More and more often, guys are too afraid to ask the the question and girls are disappointed that they can’t go with their dream date. So who is responsible for popping the question?

From my girl’s point of view, it should almost always be the boy asking the girl to the prom. It makes the girl feel wanted and good about herself. However, there are special cases where the girl may have to consider whom to ask.

For example, female members of Student Council have no other choice but to ask someone if they plan on going with a date to Christmas prom, or else they’ll have to wait for an upperclassman to ask them. That puts them under a lot of pressure because of the fear of rejection and thinking that the boy may have said yes out of pity.

Girls often feel pressure on prom night to have the perfect dress, hair and makeup, so if the boy asks, she’ll feel less pressure knowing he actually wants to go with her. However, I can see the boys’ point of view as well. Guys also feel pressure to ask someone to the prom. They feel pressure from their friends to ask and they also fear rejection because it’s just as embarrassing for them.

So, whose job is it to “prompose”? Overall, it is the boys’ job.

“It’s definitely the boys’ job. That’s how it always has been, and it should stay that way,” sophomore Jillian Pellish said.

She’s right; it should stay that way because girls deserve to be treated well enough to be asked to the prom.

If boys really want to go to the prom with that one special girl, then they’ll suck up whatever fear they have and just go for it. That is not to say that girls can’t do the same thing, but it’s more traditional and cute if the guy asks the girl.