Last Spring, Elite Daily published an online article titled “Why Good Girls Have Become Unicorns”, written by Preston Waters and shared on Facebook by 77K users (thus far). As you probably know, the piece has generated quite the buzz lately. And what could we have expected, really, from a glorified blog whose tagline reads ‘The Voice of Generation-Y’, other than poorly written, horribly thought out content that is simultaneously enraging and humourous?

The article’s basic premise, I concede, has its merits. At the heart of the mangled mess that Waters presents as an argument, is this message: women must respect themselves to attract men. Firstly, I’d like to take this time to thank Preston Waters for this astonishing, revelatory information. A discovery akin to that of electricity, if you will. Staggering genius must be such a heavy weight on such a small, sad mind. Second, let’s be clear: a decent thesis is nothing if hidden in rambling, contradictory, dismissive and overtly offensive verbiage. Third, let’s be more clear: women needing to respect themselves is not a thesis. Respect, as both a concept and as a characteristic, is not unique to gender nor generation and should never be used to disguise or excuse fundamental flaws in any person’s writing.

Needless to say, Preston’s piece is, if nothing else, an abhorrent renunciation of any and all feminist values and endeavours. But I don’t want to talk about feminism. There are women far more qualified and far more willing to engage in this criticism from a feminist angle – and good for them, and as they should. So let’s, instead, identify ourselves for the sake of this post not as feminists but as humanists. As people. Waters wants to talk about respect? How about this.

How about not using the word ‘retard’ to describe people who I can only assume he believes are ‘dumb’. How about understanding that someone’s proclivity for sex is their own business. How about not being simple enough to assume that anyone’s libido is inherently tied to their self-worth. How about recognizing that what a girl wears to a rave has no direct impact on your life. And how about not, for once, making these huge, sweeping generalizations about entire genders, entire GENERATIONS.

Every day, I am surrounded by brilliant, hilarious, beautiful women. Myself not excluded. As someone who holds high standards for myself, I maintain relationships with those around me who also at least make an effort to adhere to these standards of humanity. I don’t believe for a single moment that “good girls, as we like to call them, don’t really exist”. I dismiss this not because I am naive or misguided in my approach to life but because I know women who could intellectually stimulate the boner off Waters. To generalize an entire generation of women is so fundamentally illogical, so blatantly sexist, so entirely ignorant that to even read Waters’ article was an actual pain in my smart ass.

I agree, wholeheartedly, that self-respect is a critical component of personal well-being and that this lends itself well to the formation and maintenance of healthy relationships. Women who respect themselves are great friends, great lovers and great conversationalists. They are not unicorns. They are people. And I assure you, Mr. Waters, and every other person who actually bought into his ‘theory’ (bravo!), that they do exist.

Much like I reject any generalization of men, much as I refuse to believe that “every man is a pig”, I absolutely repudiate any insinuation, implicit or explicit, that all women of generation Y can be lumped into one singular, oppressive category. I encourage all of you to do the same. Because the alternative to believing that people are individuals is a very dismal way to live.

Preston Waters, it seems, feels entitled to his dream girl. The issue, he claims, is that smart, self-respecting women are nearly impossible to come by. But that’s not the issue. The issue is that Waters, despite his dazzling literary finesse and fascinating mind, does not deserve her. Good people, smart people, funny people, they find each other. Man or woman, you get what you deserve. So, on behalf of all us ‘unicorns’, Mr. Waters, I apologize: you are not only out of your league in your hunt for us, you are out of your mind.