Hooking up vs. Dating

                     By: Dominique Spence

In today’s society, there are many different definitions of hooking up and dating. In my opinion there is one set definition for each word. Dating requires commitment and consists of being in a relationship; however, hooking up involves engaging in different sexual encounters without emotions or the sense of commitment. However, many teens and college students would definitely disagree.

I believe that college is the place where hook ups are occurring more frequently and is kind of expected. Through movies and TV shows, we are shown that college is the place for those easy hookups that no one bats an eye at. About 44% of students in the 2000s reported having had sex with a “casual date or pickup”[1]. When alcohol is involved, I think that number could become even larger. Hooking up could also have many consequences including the risk of getting STDs or STIs. With the absent of feelings and emotions, hooking up could ultimately get tricky because you never know if or when one person will development feelings. This could become a problem if the other person doesn’t feel the same way. Many feel that hooking could eventually lead to a dating relationship, but that isn’t always the case. As an example, today's students are more likely to say one of their partners is a friend or a casual date[2]. This shows that many college students, both male and female, feel that hooking up is nothing more than casual sexual encounters.

Women more than men seem to want a relationship and they fear that in hooking up and dating they will get emotionally attached[3]. As women, we crave the idea of a happily ever after Disney ending. Most of the time men do not want to become tied down with one girl and that’s why they are more likely to keep hooking up with girls instead of jumping into relationships. There are definitely some perks of being in a relationship and dating over just hooking up. With dating you always have someone to talk to and someone always has your back no matter what. But, there is also that emotional burden that comes along with a relationship and many aren’t ready for that. That’s why I feel that hooking up is more prevalent in college because it is basically our time to have fun.

 

Nonetheless, dating and hooking up are aspects of a typical college student’s lifestyle; however the two remain indifferent to the meanings that define them.

 

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[1] Szalavitz , Maia. The New York Times, "The Truth About College Hookups." Last modified August 13, 2013. Accessed January 24, 2014. http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/04/08/hooking-up-vs-dating/12683.html.

[2] Staff, News. KATU.com, "Hooking up: Are toda'ys college students more sexually active?." Last modified August 15, 2013. Accessed January 28, 2014. http://www.katu.com/news/local/Hooking-up-Are-todays-college-students-more-sexually-active-219811711.html.

[3] Nauert, Rick. Psych Central, "Hooking Up vs. Dating." Last modified January 24, 2014. Accessed January 24, 2014. http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/04/08/hooking-up-vs-dating/12683.html.