Sorority women and members of Panhellenic organizations often are associated with stigmas that degrade the history and importance of such a group of people. It’s frustrating to be subject to stigmas that don’t accurately portray what goes on behind the scenes and is instead the result of media portrayals. This is to showcase that not all sorority women are those seen on “Greek,” “Animal House,” or “Neighbors.”

Shallow

This is probably my least favorite stereotype: that sorority “girls” put ourselves above all others and that we only think about what we’re going to wear or what party is coming up next or that our conversations are always the same. That’s not true. I might not be the one to say whether or not I’m shallow, but I will always put a friend’s needs before my own, I will strive to have deep and meaningful conversations with those around me instead of what so and so was wearing or what we want to do on Saturday night.

Rich

Being in a sorority is expensive. But that doesn’t mean that we are all prep-school, trust-fund, BMW-driving women. Most of the women in my chapter, including myself, are in school on some sort of scholarship or grant and spend their summers working or interning. My parents don’t have the financial ability to pay my dues so it’s up to me to choose what I find important, and it happens that being in a group of women that push me to be better is.

Dumb

We are not all dumb girls, studying easy subjects to get out of college having done the least amount of work possible. The GPA for my chapter this past spring was a 3.52, compared to a national average GPA of 3.1. We work hard and many Panhellenic organizations do have GPA minimums for their sisters to remain a part of the chapter or to have a leadership position. What helps is that each sister helps each other with their work if they’re struggling and that we maintain a degree of excellence in our academic pursuits.

Working out for friends

I was at the gym while wearing my letters and a woman said to her friend that I was only working out “so I could still have friends in my sorority.” What she doesn’t know is that I’m also a competitive athlete, that I need to be in shape for more than just “having friends” and that for a former fat kid, working out is an escape. Having friends shouldn’t be a motivation for living a healthy lifestyle, your lifestyle is your own choice and while being fit is helpful in many ways, your friends are your friends no matter your size.

Unmotivated

I’m not in school for my Mrs. degree. If I wanted one, I wouldn’t be working so hard in classes and would be focusing on other things. I don’t know how to plan a great cocktail dinner but I do know how to solve complex problems in Excel and how to captivate an audience through a commercial. My education doesn’t stop at graduation. If I could, I would want to stay in school forever to keep expanding my realm of knowledge. Eventually I want to work not as a housewife but in the sports industry, traditionally known as being dominated by men. Sure, that’s scary but at the same time it’s motivating because I can forge my own path, I am a sister with purpose.

Another face in the crowd

I think a lot of the time, the unique faces and personalities of the women in a given sorority get lost in the crowd. It’s understandable because there’s so many women in a given sorority that it’s impossible to remember everyone. But at the same time, each member is so different from everyone else: we all have our own unique stories and experiences that make us who we are. None of my sisters accept the cookie cutter sorority girl stereotype and instead let ourselves shine, making the sisterhood unbreakable because we need all the different pieces to function well.

Uninvolved

My week isn’t limited to chapter, sorority functions and class. I have two jobs, work on an events board, and am an active member of a competitive club sport. My friends span all kinds of groups, majors, and backgrounds, they aren’t limited to my sisters. We strive to be active members in our community in ways that span beyond Panhellenic Life, often with some Greek organizations requiring membership in a certain number of other clubs and organizations on campus. Yes, we all volunteer but it’s not because we’re forced to. Personally, I like giving back to those who have given me so much. I am not tied down to my Greek organization, I wear my letters as a symbol of loyalty to the organization that has let me flourish within my membership and that is always there for me.

An alcoholic/ a party girl

One of the worst stigmas attached to sorority women is that we party and drink all of the time. While there are sisters who do that, it is not true of the entire system. Just like you find college students that drink and students that choose not to, you will find the same in any Panhellenic organization. I don’t rely on alcohol to have a good time with my friends and don’t spend my weekends at a bar or club. Just because that’s the stigma we as Greek women receive, it doesn’t mean that it’s true for every one of the 9 million members of PanHel life.

Paying for my friends

I will be the first one to say that I wouldn’t have met many of the women that I call my sisters and friends without paying my dues, so in that sense yes, I am paying for my friends. However, when I needed to take a quarter off from my sorority, my sisters didn’t stop supporting me because I wasn’t paying dues or part of the organization. At the end of the day, the bonds I create and friendships I make with those in my sorority are priceless and will last longer than graduation day or the day I stop paying dues.

Being in a sorority isn’t for everyone. I thought it wasn’t for me until after I had pledged to join. It has its ups and downs like any organization but for me, the friendships and opportunities now and in the future are more important than the stigma attached.