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?