Deck 5: Sexism in Practice: Feminist Ethics Evaluating the Hookup Culture

Question 1

Conor Kelly is pretty critical of hookup culture. In light of all those criticisms, what's the best defense of hookup culture that you can offer? And how might Kelly respond?

Answer 1

-Offer a defense of hookup culture that makes a serious attempt to respond to Kelly's concerns about it.
-Accurately summarize, and then apply, Kelly's ideas to the defense just offered. Specifically, the essay should discuss why Kelly thinks that hookup culture undermines the freedom, equality, and safety of women on campus.

Question 2

Is hookup culture fixable? That is, can you imagine ways to reform hookup culture so that it doesn't have the negative consequences that Conor Kelly discusses? If so, what might those reforms be? If not, what does that imply about hookup culture generally, as well as the people who participate in it?

Answer 2

A good essay will either:
-Demonstrate an understanding of Kelly's worries about hookup culture, and offer some ways of reforming hookup culture where it's plausible that if those reforms were widely adopted, they would address Kelly's worries.
-Or, explain why we should be skeptical of the idea that hookup culture would be reformed (e.g., by arguing that any plausible reform would just produce something other than hookup culture), and then offer focused reasons to take particular stances on both hookup culture generally and those who participate in it.

Question 3

Conor Kelly is arguing that hookup culture is sexist, by which he means that it systematically disadvantages women. Why, exactly, does he think this? Do you agree that it's sexist? Why or why not? (If you think that it is sexist, do you think that Kelly has identified all the ways in which hookup culture systematically disadvantages women?)

Answer 3

-Accurately summarize Kelly's definition of sexism and his view about why the four features of hookup culture-namely, lack of commitment, ambiguous language, alcohol use, and social pressure to conform-undermine the freedom, equality, and safety of women on campus.
-Include a thesis that's focused and appropriate given the assignment.
-Clearly and succinctly state the argument for the essay's thesis.
-Correctly identify and defend the argument's controversial premises using sound reasoning, well-chosen examples, insightful analogies, etc.

Question 4

According to Kelly, the primary thing that men and women seek to avoid in the hookup culture is:

A) A long-term relationship
B) Love
C) Sex
D) Friendship
E) Developing fully autonomous selves

Question 5

Kelly discusses the idea that that the hookup culture is a reversal of the dating script. The idea here is that ________:

A) Things used to evolve from emotional to physical; they now go the other way
B) College students used to be interested in dating, but they now regard dating as passé
C) Dating is slowly replacing the hookup culture, decreasing the prevalence of hookup culture on campuses
D) Hookup culture reverses the emphasis on sex that was so important to the dating scene
E) Dating used to be scripted and measured, now it's a veritable free for all

Question 6

When Kelly complains that the term "hookup" is ambiguous, what is he saying?

A) That we don't have a workable definition of "hookup"
B) That the term "hookup" doesn't tell you what people are actually doing together
C) That it isn't clear how to distinguish "hookups" from "one night stands"
D) That hookups have made it hard to tell when people are in relationships
E) All of the above

Question 7

Kelly says that the freedom people feel within hookup culture is an illusion. Why is this?

A) No one is free to avoid the system altogether
B) You can't hookup with just anyone
C) Hookup culture involves a lot of alcohol, and you aren't in control when you're drinking
D) Parents and administrators are secretly in favor of hookup culture
E) Hookup culture prevents us from realizing our true selves

Question 8

Kelly criticizes the idea that hookup culture promotes independence. On that view, hookup culture promotes independence because ________:

A) It's an improvement over earlier systems where parents arranged dating relationships
B) It allows people to have sex with as many different partners as they'd like
C) It gives people the skills they'll need to be successful in life
D) It allows people to have sex without commitment
E) It's a system where men can be sexually liberated

Question 9

Kelly is concerned about people trying to separate emotions from sex. Why is this?

A) He argues that sex is better when it's emotionally meaningful
B) He thinks that keeping those things connected is crucial for developing virtue
C) He knows that scientific research has proven it's impossible
D) He doubts that it's possible to separate those things
E) He doubts that we can separate those things without harming our ability to have long-term relationships

Question 10

Kelly worries women are at a greater risk of rape and sexual assault due to ________:

A) The influence of sorority culture on campuses
B) Alcohol consumption
C) Pressure to decompress in a demanding academic environment
D) Understaffed campus police forces
E) Walking around late after partying

Question 11

Kelly claims that women who want to hook up without having sex face particularly high risks. Why is this?

A) Very few people will want to hook up with a person who isn't interested in going "all the way"
B) When women say that they aren't interested in having sex, they are permanently branded as "prudes"
C) Some men feel entitled to have sex once a physical encounter has begun
D) They will have begun the hook up in a private place where it's hard to get help if they need it
E) Women who didn't plan to have sex are less likely to use contraception in the event that they do decide to have sex

Question 12

According to Kelly, most men are interested in hooking up with known "sluts," which makes women willing to take on labels that they wouldn't otherwise want.

Question 13

According to Kelly, hookup culture itself isn't sexist, but the men who participate in it are.