the MIRROR
| OPINION |
FALL 2023 | 19
THE MIRROR | MARCELLO CHESTER
Destigmatizing the mentality of the sigma male CRISTIAN MEJIA Among Hollywood hits like “John Wick,” “Blade Runner 2049” and “American Psycho,” the iconic characters portrayed by Keanu Reeves, Ryan Gosling and Christian Bale emerge as prime examples of the sigma male archetype. Each of these characters embody a blend of self-reliance, independence and a penchant for marching to the beat of their own drum and paving their own way in life. They are incarnations of the lone wolf, questioning societal norms while remaining charismatic and enigmatic. In the ever-evolving landscape of high school culture and beyond, the sigma male has been getting more and more attention. Often misunderstood as toxic masculinity, sigma male culture does have its benefits. It is essential to understand that the sigma male is not an official classification, but a concept that has emerged from discussions around traditional masculinity. Unlike the alpha male, who is often seen as dominant and assertive, sigmas are often portrayed as lone wolves, preferring solitude and independence over conformity to societal norms. It's crucial to recognize that these traits aren't exclusive to males and can be found in individuals of any gender. The emergence of the sigma male concept and its origins can be traced back to discussions around masculinity and societal norms. It appears to have arisen as a reaction against traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Men who didn’t identify with or aspire to the traits associated with the alpha male began to adopt the sigma male label as a way to express their self reliance and resistance to conforming to societal norms. This culture is known for its encouragement of self-reliance. The movement strives to instill self-sufficiency in individuals and promotes the idea of taking responsibility for your actions and decisions. In many cases, this has led to people’s personal growth, as one learns to navigate life without relying solely on external validation or approval. Sigma culture champions authenticity and non-conformity. It fosters an environment where individuals feel empowered to be true to themselves without fear of judgment. It encourages young people to form healthy relationships based on mutual respect and shared values rather than seeking validation through superficial displays of dominance.
PLAYING CATCH UP LAUSD’s late
work policy is incentivizing students to procrastinate, leaving them with a disastrous buildup of late assignments.
Too little too late: LAUSD’s policy is sabotaging the next generation JOEL NAM Responsibility is the foundation upon which a great community, a great nation and a great people are built. It is the ability to not only acknowledge that our world can’t function perfectly or even decently without effort, but also to apply the necessary effort accordingly. It is a skill that has always been valued in society, evident even today from how quick we are to publicly slander, shame and depose politicians we think lack it. And so the burning question remains: why is it that LAUSD students in 2023 are so impressively irresponsible? If we’re a country interested in having a competent workforce in generations to come, this issue needs to be addressed immediately. The reason mentally-sound Americans love responsible people is simple: when there’s stuff that has to get done (and stuff always has to get done), these guys are the ones for the job. Put bluntly, whether you’re the president deciding national law or a cashier in a local supermarket trying to speed things along, the value of your existence depends almost entirely on how responsible you are. Our future workforce, leaders and providers are being encouraged in LAUSD schools to do less more often. During the pandemic, a controversial policy was implemented districtwide. This policy made it practically impossible for students to fail a class. Teachers were essentially stripped of their ability to report accurate marks for their students. Report cards failed to carry out their purpose, which is to accurately identify a student’s academic strengths and struggles. Originally, district officials claimed the policies would help students disproportionately impacted by online learning, such as students from lowincome and minority households. According to a study by The Times, these
CHRISTIAN BALE Sigma male.
CREATIVE COMMONS | MARTIAN KRAFT
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For three years now, students have been denied proper grading based on their attendance, adherence to deadlines, engagement and behavior."
individuals showed participation rates 10 to 20 percent lower than their white and Asian peers. However, we see those same policies in place today in the post-pandemic era, with district officials now jumping to a more absurd line of reasoning. They argue that LAUSD is in a transitional period that somehow necessitates keeping equity-based grading practices that in fact only widen the gap between grades and actual academic performance. For three years now, students have been denied proper grading based on their attendance, adherence to deadlines, engagement and behavior. This is a tad concerning, but maybe the proposed alternative was better. It was decided that the appropriate measures of academic proficiency would instead consist of students’ mastery of standards and the level of learning students showed, with quantity of work completed excluded as a factor. Basically, the district proposed that students be graded on the quality of whatever work they submit, without penalizing work that they didn’t. And so, it becomes increasingly apparent that we’re screwed. Punctuality, work ethic and time management are all core principles of a good student and a future asset to society. Having and developing these qualities actively throughout high school sets you up for being responsible
and accountable. In discontinuing the nurture of such valuable qualities in students today, we fail them and resign our country to a sad fate in which procrastination and laziness run rampant, and individuals live in a delusion-driven coma believing that success is handed to all on a silver platter. And for what? How can we truly measure people’s proficiency levels when we have completely removed the real-world factor of things needing to get done by a deadline? Let us not entertain the notion that we will ever live a world in which the men and women that keep the nation running should be allowed to be so irresponsible. It’s ridiculous, as is any institution or society that promotes this misleading, toxic message. A proper and well-functioning society cannot and will not ever be able to coexist with unchecked complacency and low standards. Continuing down this path is what will transfigure American civilization into a fool’s paradise where merit means nothing, where equality, and not fairness, is preached. There are no consolation prizes in the real world. Unconditional obligations are few and far between. If you are unable to bring value to society, then respectfully, you don’t deserve anything in return. The world revolves around supply and demand, and if your supply is meager and flimsy, the world doesn’t want it. If schools truly exist to educate and prepare students for life in the real world, then the simple truth is that lying to students for the sake of their feelings provides a false sense of safety and a setup for death by a thousand cuts. LAUSD needs to lead by example. While colleges might look favorably upon an inflated GPA, the world will not settle for sub-satisfactory performance. This game of facades and false grades has already gone on for far too long. The longer it continues, the more students will permanently get caught up in this twisted sentiment of settling for being less. And once that happens, the district will have done irreparable damage.
