The MRS degree

For those of you who don’t know, the MRS degree is a euphemism for a woman attending college for the sole purpose of obtaining a husband. They want one who will fully provide for her and allow her to be a stay-at-home wife/mother. Up north, this type of woman is synonymous with the term “gold-digger.” I understand the traditional Southern way is for men to tend to be the breadwinners and women to tend to be the homemakers. But, ladies and gentlemen, the women going for the MRS degree are far different.

The MRS degree women are a different breed. They want to drive a brand new Mercedes-Benz, live in a lavish house in the richest part of town and to be showered with gifts from Tiffany’s. They certainly don’t leave their rooms until they have a full face of makeup and their hair done. Their walk to Tompkins is less of a walk and more of a sashay down the runway. They never leave the house with just jeans and a T-shirt — unless of course, they are Lucky Brand jeans and the T-shirt from their latest social event.

Too many times I’ve been forced to listen to their deranged conversations about life and marriage. There was one instance when I had heard quite enough about their fairytale dreams. I decided to ask them what would happen if they fell in love with a guy who was poor. The leader in the trust fund search smiled as if my question had brought her some type of amusement and said in her most proper, future-politician’s-wife voice, “I would never date a poor man, so there is absolutely no way I would fall in love with one.” Her ignorance angered me to the point where I wanted to enlighten her with some colorful words, but self-control prevailed and I walked away.

Women like this are the people who indebt themselves with the college loans that eventually lead to the increase in tuition for us all. If they’re not going to take their college education seriously, then they ought to leave the opportunity to someone else. Better yet, skip the middle-man, sign up to be on some Millionaire Matchmaker show. Everyone is at least honest about what they want here. Each person involved benefits — It’s called mutualism . On the contrary, when one person in a relationship uses another in order to obtain their needs in life — it’s called parasitism. Think about it.

My mother, who is also a product of the North, raised two daughters while maintaining a career. She and my father have always taught my sister and I to be completely independent. They reinforced the idea that we don’t need a man to make us happy or to fully provide for us. Their guidance is the reason I chose to major in engineering. I want to get a little something for myself in life.  And I never want to have to feel like I owe somebody something.

Women have worked for decades to get equal rights. We are lucky enough to live in a time when women not only have the opportunity to get a college degree but they can also be equal to men in the workforce. I understand there are Southern ideals, but how can someone ever know who they are as a person if they go right from their parent’s house to their husband’s house. It’s an odd progression of events.

 If you or someone you know is currently pursuing an MRS degree, please enlighten them. Tell them the error of their ways and encourage them to do something with their lives. They might actually be surprised at how rewarding it is.