Date Culture at Homecoming

By Anna Sgarbi

Each year, one can tell when Homecoming approaches by the array of signs seen throughout campus. Whether by someone’s car, inside a building, or outside, there is never one Homecoming season where a sign can’t be spotted. All of this talk about Homecoming dates and the use of signs has me wondering why people use them in the first place and who established that culture. Why is it so important to make a sign, or some sort of public declaration, for just a simple question? 

Homecoming proposal signs are a 21st-century phenomenon. It used to be a simple phone call or a conversation two people would have with each other that decided whether they’d be going together. As social media culture has grown, the need for a physical object to ask the question has also. Scrolling through Instagram, I constantly see posts about girls getting asked by guys whether it’s as a love interest or simply as a friend. And, in each picture, a poster with a cheesy phrase on it can be seen. While I’m not anti-poster, I believe the display of asking someone to Homecoming has overshadowed the actual event. I think that society must not forget about those sweet conversations that people, like our parents, would have had in the past regarding dates for Homecoming. 

Aside from the increase in poster usage, I also have witnessed a growing need for a date to the dance. The classic saying I hear every year from someone is “I want a date to Homecoming.” However, it has me thinking, is a date really needed? I mean, what makes having a date so great? Wouldn’t it be better to just go with your best friends? As I try to break down these questions, everything returns once again to social media. Ever since its existence, social media has continued to grow and has a greater impact on teenagers each year. The majority of times, when people have a date to Homecoming, the first thing others see on their Instagram page the next day is a photo of their date and them. One of the main reasons people get a date is so they can post them on social media the next day, to show others that they too fit the norms of Homecoming.

As Homecoming has passed, I now scroll through Instagram and find all of the posts about dates. Although this is normal now, I wonder what the “normal thing” will be in the future. I know that without a doubt, Homecoming dates will still be a thing; however, maybe instead of the poster or the Instagram post, people will find new ways to show off that they, too, are going with somebody to the dance.