If you are a sorority girl, chances are, you have probably had experience with answering all kinds of awkward questions and hyper-stereotyped statements. It is unavoidable, and Greek life often holds negative connotations that are simply untrue. Here are 10 of the worst of the worst sorority girl myths, debunked. 

1.You kind of bought all your friends. This line might be the worst offender. Sororities are nationally run organizations that employ people and have expenses just like any other association. Paying dues does not automatically equate buying friendship. If that were the case, you just as much bought your friends by living in the dorms. Are you friends with every single person on campus because you paid your tuition? 

2. So you're, like, rich? Contrary to popular belief, not all girls in sororities come from wealthy families. Do some? Sure. But many sororities offer various payment plans and Greek scholarships that aid girls and their families in paying their chapter dues. Greek life is often more affordable than you may think. 

3. How badly did you get hazed? To many, hazing is almost synonymous with Greek life. However, among the Greek system, hazing is pretty heavily discouraged and is, in fact, completely against Panhellenic rules. Because of this, many girls probably won’t want to talk about it even if they have experienced some aspect of hazing. There is not one sorority whose chapters' initiation processes are identical, and while I won’t try to argue that hazing is absent in Greek life, it does not exist in the terms you are likely imagining in this day and age. Sisterhood is about looking out for one another, and girls are never purposefully forced to do anything they don’t want to. We genuinely care about all of our members and want them to feel loved and included, not humiliated. 

4. Does this mean you only hook up with or date frat guys? While the Greek community is closely-knit, sorority girls don’t only hook up or pursue a guy if he has pledged a fraternity. It may be statistically more likely, as we tend to meet more Greek men than not, but there is no kind of unspoken Greek-guys-only rule. We love meeting new people from all over campus and certainly won’t hold it against you if you are not a frat guy. In addition, we are also allowed to have friends outside of the girls in our sorority. We all have unaffiliated friends that we are just as close with!

5.What’s your sorority’s stereotype? This question often feels like a trap, even if unintentional. It usually makes us feel extremely uncomfortable the majority of the time it is asked. Casting our sorority in a good light often labels us as stuck up, and naming any negative stigmas only perpetuates them further and makes us seem like we don’t like our chapter.

6.Sorority girls are all the same. No way. I don’t have much to say in response to this statement, other than it is simply untrue. With hundreds of girls going through the rush process, this is impossible! Girls in any given house come from all kinds of different backgrounds socially, financially, academically, ethnically, etc. 

7.But, wait, you’re nice and smart! Please reference above. The stereotype that every sorority girl is automatically b****y and dumb is constantly perpetuated by movies, TV shows, etc. It’s not true! Remember Legally Blonde? 

8. So, do you just party all the time? Okay, we admit it. We like to have a good time. But who doesn’t? We're in college, and a large majority of the student population also loves to go out. We certainly know how to have fun, but that doesn’t mean that it is all we do. Ask us about the thousands of dollars we have raised for our philanthropies, sisterhood events, the other organizations we’re involved in, or our life as a student. Chances are, we will have a lot to say. 

9. Sororities are anti-feminist. No! In fact, I’d strongly argue the opposite. Sororities are based on principles of leadership, support, and empowerment. To quote Cosmopolitan magazine, “The perception of sororities is unfortunate: that everyone in them is a hot-freaking-mess. Frat parties (while sometimes fun) are not anyone's shining moment. But for every drunken college dance floor, there are three times the opportunities for leadership positions, community service, and campus philanthropy events held by a sorority.” Seriously! 

10. Are you friends with everyone? Isn’t that fake? I bet there’s drama all the time. As all houses have diverse members, it is unlikely that every single member is going to be best friends with every single other member. That is just not life, and trying to argue that our sisterhoods breach all barriers would be untrue. However, I am a strong believer that every girl ends up in the house that she is meant to be in. The friendships I have found in my house are genuine and I would not trade my Greek life experience for the world.