“Vomit and feces are two reasons I have decided not to procreate” – talk show host and author Chelsea Handler lays it all out on the table, telling you exactly what’s on her mind and not paying any mind to political correctness or the idea that women should always be “lady-like”. Handler’s casually offensive and often vulgar speech reflects how women are slowly shifting from remaining proper and polite to cursing on a regular basis and discussing topics not necessarily appropriate for the family dinner table.

     It may not be a nation-wide epidemic but women have definitely made it clear that they reserve the right to be just as vulgar in everyday life as high school boys in a locker room. This developing trend may have sprouted out of a desire for gender equality on a social level.

     Walking through the halls of SHS, it is not unusual to hear curse words among the hallway banter but if you listen closely, the female voices often parallel the male voices. Senior Robin Monaco said, “I feel comfortable talking like that because it’s the way I am. I’m loud and obnoxious and I like making people laugh.”

     Several generations ago, general society looked down on women who “cursed like sailors” and neglected to abide by the unspoken lady like decorum. Now it seems as if the general public champions women who challenge these traditions, in fact, we hold them to the highest standard of entertainment.

     So when does entertainment become straight up rude behavior? If you consider the dialogue from Chelsea Lately – nothings seems to be off limits. Many people think that relatively vulgar people are the confident, outgoing ones – people who comfortably act that way simply because they don’t care what others think.

     Others argue that women who act in such a vulgar way appear as just that – vulgar. Senior Matt King said, “I think it can be a little disturbing and not lady-like because I always try to hold myself back from burping and stuff when I’m in front of girls.” There is no doubt seeing a nice young girl belching and swearing at a high decibel is a bit unappealing but there is some validity in that type of behavior. If society accepts men behaving in such a way then the double standard seems unfair.

     The answer to women’s thirst for equality, however; is not to give in and parallel the behavior of ill-mannered juvenile boys, it is to essentially build confidence and be able to define themselves. If that confidence happens to come from cussing and burping then by all means, let the women be. The important thing to note is that women seeking confidence need not adopt a type of behavior completely foreign to them. If your vulgarity is less than entertaining and seems a bit scripted then leave the humor to Chelsea Handler and find an alternate way to compel your audience.