By Kelly Galvin
Reporter
Living in the Baylor Bubble comes with its advantages and its disadvantages. We all love the close-knit community and the security of being a part of such an exclusive group.
But what about those stigmas that come with being a Baylor student? I know that I personally have visited other campuses and when I told people I go to Baylor the first thing out of their mouth was, have you met your husband yet? Or are you getting your MRS. degree?
Not only was I taken aback by the statements, but I had no clever response in return. I just kind of laughed it off and said no. When did getting your ring by spring become such a pressing issue?
I know that society has put a picture into the heads of many young women of marriage and children, but I find my picture, and those of many women, to be changing. However, that is not to say that being a young wife and mother is wrong. It’s probably one of the most rewarding jobs in the world, but why must we make such a huge commitment right out of college?
Coming to Baylor is about a $150,000 investment, and for most people, four years out of their life.
For me, if I were to settle down right out of college my investment would lose most of its worth, and with such a competitive job market the window of opportunity is narrow.
Not only do I want to get myself established into a career before making marital plans, but I want to find a man that has ambitions and mature goals.
Women outnumber men at Baylor six to four. So if you look at those numbers you could predict that out of those four men one is in a relationship, one is not your type, and one is not looking for a relationship. That leaves one to potentially be compatible with. I have come to terms with the reality that I probably will not get my ring by spring and am more than happy with that. I want to have time in my life to be selfish and spontaneous without having to think about the needs and concerns of a partner.
The search for women to find good men has become harder and harder throughout the years.
The Wall Street Journal just published an article about the evolution of men, saying “today, most men in their 20s hang out in a novel sort of limbo, a hybrid state of semi-hormonal adolescence and responsible self-reliance.”
This makes finding a potential husband more difficult now than for past generations.
So why must we, independent, college-educated Baylor women, fall into the ring by spring stigma? The fact of the matter is that we don’t, or at least I won’t. I plan to create my own future, not the one that the Baylor stereotype has placed on me.
If marriage and children are what makes me happy I will follow that path, but for now I feel content with finding happiness in my success.
Kelly Galvin is a junior journalism major from San Antonio and a reporter for the Lariat.
