By: Diamond Stewart

Georgia State University, senior Eric Cooper says, it best when describing the term “cuffing seasons” and it’s meaning. “It’s a physiological response to the cold… it’s really about having someone with you when it’s cold and someone to cuddle with, and it’s like drafting someone in the NFL like and they start making touchdowns you’re going to keep the player who is making touchdowns, you want them on your roster.”

As the seasons change, so do people’s feelings about being single. In today’s world, there are so many terms when it comes to dating, but what comes up in conversation the most is the term “cuffing season.”
With the holidays and cold weather being just a few weeks away, I asked around Georgia State University campus to find what the term “cuffing season” meant and how students looked at the term today.

Urban dictionary introduced this term in 2011, “Cuffing season” is a time during the fall and winter months where people who would usually rather be single or promiscuous find themselves along with the rest of the world desiring to be “cuffed” or tied down by a serious relationship. 

Complex.com breaks down the definition of “cuffing season.” It states that it is the phenomenon of figuratively language control by emotionally tying yourself to another person during fall and winter season. It is known for the two I’s: Intercourse and Intimacy.

Many students at the Georgia State University have mixed feelings about the term “cuffing season.” Most students on campus felt that “cuffing season” is a “joke” and they say it mocks dating culture for millennials, and it supports the idea of millennials worried more about themselves and how they are so focused on making money. Other students felt that it’s an accurate representation of the millennial generation.

Junior Gregory Thompson says, “I mean [cuffing season] it’s a seasonal thing where you try to find a significant other for like a short period of time… it’s a silly idea honestly.”

Data released by Gallup shows that the percentage of people between the ages of 18 and 29 that are already married have declined and people who are getting married is also declining. The decline means that not only are fewer young adults married but also that fewer are in committed relationships. As a result, the percentage of young adults who report being single and not living with someone has risen dramatically in the past decade, from 52% in 2004 to 64% in 2014. Also, TIME Magazine states the three main reasons people are still single is that they haven’t found the right person (30%), aren’t financially stable enough (27%) and are not ready to settle down (22%).

Junior Geneva Cook agrees with Thompson. “It’s kinda like become like a stigma to have somebody during this season…so when it comes to having to be with somebody by the end of October and like now you know if you’re single by November you’re ugly … No … [ain’t] nothing wrong with having some personal time to get yourself together.” Cook also states that the concept of being with someone just for a season is delusional. She says true love, which is rare, doesn’t work like that and people should focus more on making money.

The dating styles for millennials are constantly changing, and although Atlanta’s weather has not gotten to frigid temperatures, students like Thompson and Cook are some of the many students who feel like cuffing season cuffing season is just a past time for people who don’t have anything to do.

So, when asking the students if the “cuffing season” was a seasonal thing or a real relationship, Georgia State University had mixed feelings.

Sophomore Riani Nelson says, “Most of the time it is just seasonal… if you have to wait for the weather, then that relationship is seasonal.” Many of the students would disagree with Nelson, stating that a “cuffed” relationship can last longer than the designated season if you and the other person are willing to commit.

So, what keeps millennials buzzing about “cuffing season” and why is this trend still in the mainstream?

Cook called the term “cuffing season” a stigma. “I mean people use social media all the time, so if you see someone who just got cuffed you’re going to feel some type of way. Ultimately like I said it’s a stigma for people our age. Either you are on your grind, or you are trying to settle down. It’s really a tossup with people our age.” Cook is calling “cuffing season” a stigma because most people don’t know whether they want to be in a relationship or focus on themselves and making money.

Many of the students at Georgia State University agrees with Cook, stated that social media is still keeping the stigma alive.