HPRgument: Tradition vs Gender Equality

Two events in recent weeks have brought Harvard’s attention to the issue of gender equality in exclusive student organizations. On September 8, seventeen undergraduate women decided to audition for a spot in the Hasty Pudding Theatrical cast, and in doing so they challenged the group’s long-standing tradition of including only men in its drag shows. A few days later, the Spee Club, one of eight male final clubs, announced that it would be inviting women to participate in its punch process this fall. Some have lauded these developments as huge steps in increasing gender equality in student groups. However, others believe that these events ignore the larger problems underlying these organizations. In this HPRgument, Tasnim Ahmed and Peter Wright weigh in on what they believe are the implications of these events.