Expectations of gender roles have changed along with how young men and women interact, relate, and coexist with each other. This has changed over the decades for many young men and women at San José State.
Polls
On April 16, the Spartan Daily conducted a poll that was modeled after a poll done by the Spartan Daily in November 1977 called “Men, women react to sex polls” in which male and female students were asked about what they look for in a potential partner of the opposite sex.
Women
According to the same poll conducted by the Spartan Daily in 2024, about 69% of the 87 women polled reported personality matters more over looks and ambition.
“I consider looks a good amount, but I think that personality matters a lot and it's often not credited as much,” public health sophomore Diya Kamath said.
Women reported some of the emotional traits they look for in men are funny, kind, respectful, passionate, stoic, grounded, communicative, caring, being a good listener, and having good music taste.
Women reported some of the physical attributes they look for in men include height, most said 5 feet 7 inches tall and above with their preferred body type being lean or muscular.
Around 17.2% of SJSU women said looks matter over personality and ambition, 13.7% of women said ambition matters more in men.
“How they think or their perspective on things is something that fascinates me more,” business senior Sraavya Apuri said.
Men
The results from the same poll showed that 54.93% of the 71 men at SJSU polled reported personality matters more.
Men reported some of the traits they look for in a girl are trustworthiness, honesty, good communication skills, caring, good values, opinionated, loyalty, and have great taste in music.
Physical attributes they look for in a girl are nice eyes, a nice smile, shorter in height than them, most reported below 5 feet 6 inches tall is ideal.
“I just want to be able to do stuff with her, but also, at the same time we can chill at the house,” said finance junior Malachi Gossett.
Though 32.3% of men said looks matter, ultimately SJSU men agree that personality is a higher priority over looks.
“Looks drag you in, but I feel like you can't love someone just off of looks,” said technology engineering sophomore Landon Ross.
Women and Men in 1977
Michael Moretta, a 1984 San José State alum was interviewed in a story published by the Spartan Daily on Nov. 22, 1977 called “Relationships: from dates to marriage,” where he talked about married life as a student with his ex-wife Kathi.
Moretta said he and Kathi met in high school and started dating in 1973, married in 1976 and eventually divorced in 1980.
He said their partnership was based on equity, independence and the understanding that both him and Kathi needed to get their degree.
“We came in as best friends and we're still good friends today,” Moretta said.
Moretta said what also played into the emotional tone of their marriage was the time period itself, with value being placed on self-sufficiency.
Moretta said even though he had very strong platonic love for Kathi, he always subconsciously knew that they were not going to be together forever.
He said he knew the marriage would not work long term as they grew into adulthood.
Moretta said he now believes marriage is much more complicated than it was back then.
“I think the culture of marriage has evolved into two generations, it’s evolved into a whole different connotation,” Moretta said.
Moretta said he and Kathi are still able to look back at their time together and smile because they still have the same friendship that got them through college.
“It was a partnership and it was a great one,” Moretta said.
Women and Men Now
Digital media junior Cassandra Santander, said she is still seeking the traditional idea of “finding love”.
Santander said there is a major cultural shift in relationships, and believes her generation typically do not want to commit or be serious about relationships.
She said social media makes things harder and more confusing to navigate relationships and marriage because it can often misconstrue things.
“Social media and being in this day and age makes it easier to realize how tough marriage can be, and that it's more than just love,” Santander said.
