Sorority life is becoming bigger and bigger each year and has taken over the lives of many college girls. People join sorority life for different reasons, but at the end of the day, we all want to gain a sisterhood and a group of friends for life.
As a sorority girl, I feel confident and proud to wear my letters. However, what Greek life means to me may mean different to other people. Actually, it does mean different to others. Specifically, those not involved in Greek life. When you join a sorority, you learn the meaning behind it and the history. You learn what it's all about.
Stereotypes are a serious problem today, but in my life, I am stereotyped as a "typical" sorority girl. Stereotyping sorority life is not only wrong but not even true in most ways. Movies create this stereotype by creating false depictions of sorority life and people are blind to what realistic sororities are all about.
I take stereotyping sororities to the heart.
I made my way around campus and asked different people how they viewed sorority life. Here were the results.
1. "Sororities pay for their friends." False. If we "pay for our friends," then I definitely do not pay enough.
2. "Sorority girls are rich, snobby girls with designer coats and what not." I don't have a designer coat, yet I'm in a sorority?
3. "All sorority girls do is take pictures." Yes, we like to take pictures, but who doesn't nowadays? Sorry, we like to capture our memories and be proud to post a picture with sisters.
4. "Sorority girls only wear their sororities apparel." We are proud to wear our letters and for most of us, that is the majority of all we own. It's not affecting you in any way.
5. "Sorority girls are inclusive to only those in their sorority." Yes, we are close to our sisters, yet some of my best friends aren't in a sorority at all or a different one than mine.
6. "If you're a sorority girl, you probably get with frat boys." There are plenty of girls in my sorority who aren't even associated with frat boys. There are girls who love them, which is perfectly fine, and girls who stay away from them. Either way, sororities aren't inclusive to only frat boys.
7. "Sororities are just associated with parties." We have these events called "socials" but us sorority girls do not throw parties. There are girls who do not go out and there are girls who like to, we have a variety of different kinds of girls and that's what makes us unique. The below picture tends to be me and my sister's majority of the time on the weekends.
8. "Dumb girls." Actually, we have one of the higher GPA's of the organizations and they hold us accountable for grades. My grades have only improved since being in a sorority.
9. "They haze you for what? Sisterhood?" We have a no hazing policy. Hazing is unacceptable and we want our incoming sisters to feel welcome, not scare them away. This assumption is completely false.
10. "Sorority girls have the best of the best. They're peppy, pretty, popular, rich, and know it." We all have our flaws. There are so many different types of girls in my sorority. Sure there are peppy girls, there are pretty girls, "popular" aka have a lot of friends girls, and some girls may be wealthier than others. But sorority girls do not have it all and we all have our bad days. We are normal people and you may stumble upon girls who act snobby, but overall, that is not the typical personality of a sorority girl.
11. "If you're a girly girl, you're probably in a sorority." False. We do like to dress up, we do girly things sometimes, but not every girl falls under the "girly girl" category. You don't have to be girly to join a sorority. And if you are girly, that doesn't give you an automatic in with Greek life.
12. "Each sorority has their own 'type' of girl." Every sorority is unique in their own way and they may have sisters who have a lot of things in common; however, there is not one "type" of girl per sorority. In most cases, we are all different in so many ways and that only makes us stronger.
Judgment is so easily done nowadays and frankly, I don't blame the stereotypes behind sorority life. The number of negative depictions of Greek life is so shameful and upsetting.
This article is out there for all those people who think poorly of sororities. I get that to fully understand this sisterhood, you have to be a part of it. At the end of the day, all that we are asking for is for respect towards Greek life and stop the judgment for being a "sorority girl."
Sorority life comes with philanthropies, community service, socials, sisterhoods, and so much more. We have high standards for ourselves, but you should too. We hold each other accountable and enjoy life while serving others and making our sisterhood strong. Greek life has given me a home away from home and a sense of belonging, what is wrong with that?
I hope this article changed your mind about stereotypes and makes you think about Greek life in a better way. Go greek! My life has only changed for the better.
XOXO,
Alyssa Ellyn
