After circulation of recruitment videos, bid day pictures,and plenty of spoofs on both, the stereotype of what a sorority girl is or should be is only becoming stronger. And more wrong.
Fed up by this ever-growing perception of sorority girl stereotypes, I've decided to clear things up and separate fact from fiction.
1. Sorority girls don’t eat
This myth is the most astonishing thing, especially after my personal experience in my chapter. We make it a point to have large cheese trays and sandwiches at most of our events. I always have a sister who will love indulging in late night pizza and Insomnia Cookies. We enjoy delicious foods as much as everyone else. The reason more people aren't aware of it is because the pictures we post of ourselves shamelessly devouring all this food are only seen in private group messages.
2. Sorority girls only care about looks
I feel confident in saying that over two-thirds of my chapter would describe their going-to-class look as "homeless" (a trend I actively participate in). We do not all load our faces with two pounds of makeup to go to the grocery store or feel the need to look our best at the gym. Sorority girls like looking good just like all girls, but it’s definitely not our sole focus. I will more than likely prioritize food (see Stereotype #1) in front of doing my hair.
3. All sorority girls hook up with a gazillion boys
As a happy girlfriend, I do not hook up with anything that walks. Being in Greek life provides you with a seemingly limitless number of people telling you that you are too good to go home with him and deserve much better, which is always true. In a sorority, everyone will probably find out what you do, setting our standards much higher than girls who are not held as accountable for their actions. Because everything we do represents so much more than ourselves, we choose to hold ourselves to these expectations. This does not excuse us from slipping up; we’re still human.
4. Sisterhood is an imaginary concept
It is not just a word to ramble on about during recruitment - even though you are probably very sick of hearing it by bid day. It’s hard to define, but easy to come by. Sisterhood is the cookies that your sister sends you when you have a bad day. The good luck text when you have an exam. The frighteningly threatening texts about hurting a boy who cheated on your sister. Someone who fixes your makeup when you cry about probably nothing. I am endlessly thankful to every single one of my sisters for the compassion and acceptance they’ve shown me. I can tell you for a certain fact, sisterhood is real.
5. You’re paying for friends and parties
Going off of how meaningful the connections I’ve made are, I owe these girls way more than the money I’m paying to wear sorority letters. No matter how much you pay, nothing forces these girls to be your friends. They become family by choice. They choose to look out for you when you’re in need, to be your biggest fan, and a friend always. Not to be cliché, but it’s so much more than just four years of partying and gossip.
After only two semesters, I know that my sisters are going to be with me throughout the rest of my life. These are lifelong connections that don’t die when you stop paying dues.
