What does Valentine’s mean to women?

Valentine’s Day is fast approaching, and that means people in relationships will give their partners all kinds of gifts.  

Roses, chocolate, teddy bears and expensive dinners are probably the first thoughts that come to most women’s minds — but what if there was more to Valentine’s Day than just these gifts?  

Utah State University sophomore Lilly Hall said, “It depends on the person because some people, you know, their love language is receiving gifts, but for myself, I don’t want all that. I’d rather spend time with Evan and watch a movie.” 

Hall said she values quality time over physical gifts, as she may eventually throw or give these gifts away.  

Her husband, Evan Hall, also a sophomore at USU, said before he started seriously dating Lilly, he thought all girls wanted flowers and chocolates for Valentine’s Day. He said he thought this way because of what he saw in the media.   

“Every time you watch a TV show or movie and there’s Valentine’s things, the guy walks up to the door to pick up a date on Valentine’s Day. He has a thing of roses and a heart shaped box of chocolates and so that’s just kind of what you think of,” Evan said.  

But after he started dating Lilly, he realized that Valentine’s Day is deeper than some TV shows make it seem. 

“I learned that women really just want to be appreciated and have all of the things that they do for you noticed,” Evan said.  

First-year student Kinsey Bitterman said she thinks women like to be reminded they are loved — whether that’s through a hug and a kiss or a handwritten note.  

While Bitterman appreciates gifts, she wishes more people would look at Valentine’s Day as a holiday to commemorate love for everybody, not just a romantic partner.  

“Some of my roommates are like ‘Gross, Valentine’s Day’ because you know, they don’t have a partner. I don’t see it that way though because I’m like, ‘Well, I love my family and my friends and all those people,’” Bitterman said.  

Lilly said there are things people can do to make Valentine’s Day a special day, no matter what your relationship status is.  

“I think Valentine’s Day could also be a date for yourself where you prioritize your own self and even take yourself out for dinner, but I also think getting together with friends and family who maybe aren’t doing anything or aren’t dating anybody would be good,” Lilly said.  

Bitterman, who is single this Valentine’s Day, said she will probably treat the holiday like a normal day, but will make sure to tell her family and friends she loves them.  

“I think the idea of love kind of gets pushed to the side in the busy world. So, I think taking that one day just to make sure that you tell your family or whoever it is that you love them is really important,” Bitterman said.  

-Savannah.Burnard@usu.edu

Photo illustration by Bailey Rigby