As a student going through the process of rushing a sorority this semester, I was constantly scrolling through all of the social media outlets to see what was happening in the world around me. From people freaking out about why they didn't get their top pick, to people complaining that they caught the "Panhellenic Plague" after shaking so many hands this week, rush was literally all I heard about. Although there was plenty of positivity towards the wonderful girls that I met this week, there was also a fair amount of degradation that was not only unnecessary but also untrue. All of the women I met this week were welcoming and incredibly kind, and for them to be ridiculed because of a predisposed idea that seems to have appeared out of thin air is absolutely ridiculous to me.
The truth is, every sorority is different. Certain norms do occur, which bring girls who have a lot in common together, making the sisterhood stronger. This also leads to one group being viewed as “academically driven” and another being seen as “party animals,” otherwise known as stereotypes. Inherently, stereotypes are not bad, because most of the time they are seated in some truth. The danger of stereotypes is that they walk (and often cross) the line between respectful and demeaning when they are being used to describe individuals who wears those letters. Words such as “slut,” “ugly,” and other expletives are frequently found associated with sorority girls on anonymous sites such as Yik Yak, and sadly, this has an negative impact on both the girls already in the sisterhood and the girls who are thinking about rushing. I know several of my friends decided not to accept a bid because that particular sorority is known for being “weird” and unacceptable dates for men in fraternities. These girls are missing out on an experience with some wonderful women who would genuinely care about them. Some of my other friends who accepted bids with another sorority are worried that they will be seen as stuck up by the other chapters on campus because of a reputation that precedes them. For women who are already initiated sisters, their reputation can impact not only their friend group but also their pledge class size and even how much funding they have for events and philanthropy. Stereotyping women in sororities not only hurts their self-esteem, it also hurts the organization itself, and by extension the people they try to reach.
I am a firm believer that the purpose of sororities is to further women, to reach out to each other and the community and to show college-age girls what they can do to impact their peers and the world around them in a positive light. Although many girls agree with me, they are overshadowed by the negative voices that see it as an exclusive club that tries to belittle those who choose not to be in it. The worst part about this situation is that now girls who do choose to be a part of these wonderful organizations are being belittled instead. So, to those of you who choose to say hateful and demeaning comments about sorority girls without reason, think before you speak. To the sorority girls like me who are just trying to expand their horizons, don’t take to heart things that are meant to spite you. Smile, and know that you have joined something bigger than yourself, and that you have 100 new sisters to enrich your life.
