Most people think of Greek Life as a sure way to get invited to parties or to binge drink on the regular. While that may be possible, or even true for some, most Greek organizations are completely different. Not only are organizations different from that stereotype, but we’re each unique in our own ways. We all have our own history and traditions. Even within each organization there are many different mindsets, political views, and ideas. To me, this is what makes Greek Life so special. By rushing, pledging, and possibly becoming a Greek, you meet a ton of people you would have never otherwise interacted with.
As a feminist, you might run into some Greeks (and people in general) that have a hard time dealing with your politics. Unfortunately, all too many people see feminism in direct opposition to men, or to sexuality, or to having fun. In reality, the general idea is that feminists just want equality between men (the privileged) and everyone else (the oppressed) in political, economic, and social situations. Women want to be paid equally, and to not be cat called, maybe even be able to breast feed in public without being harassed…you know, the basics. While feminism does have a specific definition as stated above, it can hold greater or more complicated meanings for each individual.
For me, feminism means support (not only tolerance) of difference, whether that be difference of ideas, gender, sex, sexuality, race, class, age, body type, abled-bodies or otherwise, etc. I try my best to promote awareness through social media and as a peer educator in the Gender and Sexuality Resource Center on the SUNY Oneonta campus in hopes that being able to see that there are realities that are separate from our own can inspire change within others. Of course, I believe that men, women, and non-conforming people can work together to achieve our collective goal, because feminism really is for (and about) everyone.
Sometimes it may seem to outsiders that the world of feminism and the world of sorority life are completely separate. But being on the inside, you see that things are a lot different than what you first expect. The girls are really good and genuine people. They treat your ideas with respect, even when you’re voting for opposing candidates in the upcoming election. Maybe they don’t all call themselves feminists, and that’s okay because it’s just a word that we attribute to our beliefs. We can still have these values without labeling ourselves and that’s cool. Even when your sisters don’t have a label or aren’t as loud about feminism as yourself, you learn that they just want the best for you, they want to help you and see you succeed. They want to lift each other up and celebrate their womanhood alongside of you. They truly believe in the best of you.
Being in a sorority, you see that all girls really want is to be successful and empowered by one another. Sure, we may have fun during the weekend, but that isn’t all there is to us. We enjoy the company of one another and of other girls in different organizations. Being a feminist in a sorority really shows you how capable women are to lead, to inspire, to conquer, and to change the world. By being a feminist in a sorority, you come to the realization that girl power is really the ultimate power.
