To the images that make us seem less than who we really are,
We encounter you all the time. We’ve seen ourselves incorrectly portrayed in movies, TV shows, advertisements, and basically any other form of entertainment that is trying to capture the “correct” college image. We’ve heard you when we brought up the idea of Panhellenic Recruitment to our parents and had to listen as they mentioned every single one of you as a ploy to try and convince us that there were better things to spend time on. We’ve even seen you first hand. When we’re walking through campus proudly wearing our letters, or when we mention to someone for the first time that we are involved in Greek life and we immediately see their facial expression change and that judgmental look come into their eye, and you can tell that in the back of their head all they’re doing is imagining you doing whatever was inaccurately portrayed in last summer’s sorority movie. That initial judgmental look is usually trailed by the following…
1. “Why would you want to pay for your friends?”
Just like many other organizations, sororities have dues. And that’s exactly what they are, sorority dues, not “friendship dues.” Additionally, this money either comes back to us and/or makes a positive impact in the world. Whether it goes towards your chapter directly, headquarters, a philanthropy, whatever it may be, it does not go to waste. However, if I am paying for my friends, then I clearly am not paying enough for the beautiful, caring, and compassionate individuals that I've gotten to know.
2. “You pretty much live in frat basements”
Last time I checked, in any given week, I see my sisters getting coffee, walking through campus, getting food, hanging out with their friends, in the library, going to other club meetings, and getting involved on campus more often than I see them in a fraternity’s basement. And a lot of people in college like to go out and a lot of those people end up at a fraternity house so why is it that sororities are targeted for taking part in something that so many other people do?
3. “Sorority girls don’t care about school”
Considering that all Panhellenic sororities require a minimum GPA in order to stay an active member I really do not understand this stereotype. Part of the image that sororities try to create for themselves to squash these stereotypes is a group of women dedicated to the reason why they came to college in the first place, their studies.
4. “Didn’t you get hazed?
It is not shocking news that hazing used to be a major issue on college campuses that caused many problems, but the now very popular “These Hands Don’t Haze” campaign is spreading widely to campuses everywhere. Unfortunately not every case of hazing has been stopped, but more and more sororities are having their new members “earn their letters” by going through New Member Workshops and focusing on learning the history and values of their new family rather than seeing who can chug a fifth of vodka the fastest. Yes, I earned my letters but no, I did not get hazed in order to do so.
5. "You have everything handed to you”
No way. Nope. Not at all. The amount of people that have a job, maybe even two, on top of school work, being in a sorority, and other commitments, just so they can survive as a still broke college student is insane. Sororities are not filled with people who use Daddy's money to pay for everything.
6. “Sorority girls only interact with other Greek life”
Never have I encountered someone involved with Greek life that does not interact with someone if not numerous people not involved with it. What about roommates? What about people in class? What about that person that sparked a conversation with you about how long the line is while waiting to get coffee or a bagel? Greek life is not a secluding cult and should not be viewed as one.
7. “They always have to look good”
Let’s keep this one short and simple. Personally, I will walk to class 95% of the time wearing running pants, a hoodie and a pair of Birkenstocks because that is what I’m comfortable in. When I pass sisters on campus, some of them are wearing the exact same thing as me, while there are also some that like actually getting dressed and looking cute and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Sororities promote body positivity to their sisters, wear what you feel comfortable in and be sure to strut yourself in everything from your cutest t-shirt dress to your comfiest pair of pjs.
8. “You’re all the same”
The point of joining a sorority is to meet new people that you maybe wouldn’t normally be with or get the chance to hang out with. Why would anyone become part of a group people that are exactly like them? That’s just boring. Sorority sisters are all well-rounded people and they gain that quality by being around different people, after all, you are who you surround yourself with.
9. “Sororities only take pretty girls”
This one is a bit confusing because in a way it is true but not for the reasons people may think. When someone talks about this stereotype they imagine a tall “Barbie doll” blonde with a thigh gap thick enough to drive a truck through; when in reality “a pretty girl” is every girl. So yes, sororities only do take pretty girls because every girl is beautiful no matter the size, shape, color, anything.
10.“Oh, you’re a sorority girl?”
No. I am a sorority woman. I represent my sisterhood, our philanthropies, my school, hard work, my morals, my values, and much more. That is all.
So, to all these sorority stereotypes and the people that not only believe them but also spread them, please realize how incorrect you are and please stop referring to movies for an accurate sorority representation and start referring to the smart, well-rounded individuals that truly represent what we are really about.
Sincerely,
Sorority Women
