I am a sorority woman.

I am an independent woman.

I am a feminist.

I am a sorority woman.

Many people hear the word "sorority" and the image of a thin, bleach blonde pops into their mind. They imagine parties and women who sleep around for their own sheer enjoyment. They see exclusive groups who are always hungover and constantly skip class to spend time with their frat boyfriend. All they wear is Lilly Pulitzer or monograms and judge those who do not look like them or dress like them. I am a sorority woman, and this stereotype is just that, a stereotype. It is a broad blanket term that describes 2% of the women who are actually involved in Greek Life.

Here I am, a sorority woman, with brunette hair that hits my shoulders and a healthy weight (I really enjoy pizza and Kit-Kats). I have gone to my share of parties but I do not drink. I do not sleep around. I do NOT skip class. I have leadership positions in my sorority that I would never have thought I would be capable of leading. I have my share of monograms and I do like Lilly Pulitzer, but I also like Goodwill. (I can not remember the last time I went into a non-thrift store and bought myself clothes.) While that stereotype may describe some of the women in Greek Life, the blanket term defining ALL sorority women needs to be put to rest. Sorority women as a whole are working to defeat and defy the stereotype, but it is pointless when others in the world refuse to look past their own perspectives to see all the positive actions we possess.

I stand up for others and for my own beliefs. I do not allow others to walk all over me and let others control my actions. If I see someone putting down or belittling someone, I will intervene because of how my parents raised me. They never allowed me to allow stereotypes to dictate my life. I am myself because of my own choices that have led me to this place. I am a sorority woman because I know that the 40 other women in my house would do the same for me any day of the week.

Sororities were organizations I never saw myself a part of. I knew the stereotype was probably false, but I was still not sure of how much I would wish to participate. Looking back, I am glad I was speculative. I am glad I do not overthink it still. The opportunities and networking connections that I have established through my year in a sorority are enough to diminish the Greek Life stereotype. I have connections to women all over the world due to our sorority. I am proud of Greek Life, we have helped to shape many successful women throughout the years and I am proud to be a part of the same organizations that shaped Harper Lee (Chi Omega) and Carol Bellamy (Delta Gamma).