There are only a few things that can make me ashamed to say I'm involved in Greek life. Those few things include national scandals, people un-ironically using the word "geed," and the glitter-laden armpit of the Internet that is Total Sorority Move.
When I received a bid from my sorority I distinctly remember someone asking me if I would find myself frequenting TSM (now that I was like totally a srat girl). To which I responded with a scoff, an eye-roll, and a no.
After a semester of being involved in my sorority, I will admit I do read TSM from time to time, but only to the detriment of my brain cells. Every time I go on the website (which is run by former Greeks who peaked during Greek Week 2009), it's riddled with click-bait in order to get college girls like us to find out the perfect angle to take nudes from or to find out if we're side-chicks (real articles, that real people got paid money to write, I kid you not).
I'm not going to preach that sorority women should be "classy" and "lady-like" because gender roles make me want to dry-heave as much as the next gal. It's not the articles about revenge sex or drunk escapades that really bother me either. However, there are some TSM articles that are undoubtedly click-bait, but upon further glance are really problematic, and here are four of them.
1. Stop Crying Rape
This literary masterpiece is an awesome example of how victim-blaming is still an issue on college campuses. The author here specifically targets drunk girls who go home with guys and want to "take back their mistakes." Not only do sexual assault victims have to face colleges that don't want to expel their assailants, but they also have to worry about their peers not believing them. Instead of trying to tear women down and point fingers, why not talk about ways to prevent sexual assault, or look out for your friends at parties? Probably too much of a positive addition to society for TSM.
What to read instead: Stepping Up To Stop Sexual Assault
Someone give this girl the Nobel Peace Prize because she doesn't care that her boyfriend is "poor" (he only has two pairs of shoes, how vile). Hold the presses because she's basically the Ganhdi of our generation. She proposes a ludicrous idea that we should actually like people for their personalities and not what's in their wallets. Whoa! Groundbreaking! Five gold stars for you.
What to read instead: How Gay Marriage Became A Constitutional Right (Stories of same-sex couples going through actual adversity.)
3. Not Every Woman Is Beautiful
This is where the prospect of TSM really makes me angry. This could have been a great article about society's concept of beauty, and how it's something we value too heavily. Of course, the author couldn't do it without tearing down "heavy-set women in bikinis." All under the veil of being "honest," as if she's doing the world a favor. No, that's called being an asshole.
What to read instead: 5 New Directions For The Body Positive Movement
4. Guess What? “Pulling Out” Works Just As Well As Condoms Because Everyone Lied To Us
This one is my favorite, where TSM decides to use its national platform to tell women to have unprotected sex! Forget years of medical progress to fight the spread of STIs and equipping women with birth control, let's just post something provocative for views! They claim that sex with a condom is "the most un-sexy thing ever." Funny, because you know what else isn't sexy? Gonorrhea.
What to read instead: If any episode of "Teen Mom" can't convince you to practice safe sex, here are the facts.
So will I continue laughing at articles about drunken hook-ups and walks of shame? Probably. But TSM, I implore you, do more than this. Be a better voice for Greek women across the country. In my personal experience, sorority women are intelligent, driven, passionate, and are some of my best friends. Everyone wants to diminish the stigmas of Greek life. Websites like Total Sorority Move are only going to hurt the Greek community.
