Being a woman already comes with a stigma, but being a "sorority girl" comes with its own brand of stereotyping. It carries thoughts of parties, drinking, and boys. The media typically portrays sorority women as dumb, superficial, rich, stuck up, promiscuous, and irresponsible. As a sorority woman, I can tell you that the stereotype is not all true. The women who I've met in Greek life are some of the most inspirational and influential role models to the community. They are aspirational and reach for their goals. They contribute hours to philanthropy and community service. They genuinely want to make the world a better place. There is so much more to the diverse group of women that make up Greek life than what is portrayed in movies and the news. I surveyed a number of women from different schools, majors, and sororities to ask them, "Why are you not a stereotypical sorority girl?" and got beautiful responses from these women about what makes them so much more than the stereotype. Read about what makes them different below.
Name: Melanie Lawdensky
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Alpha Gamma Delta, Cell and Molecular Biology
"I'm not a typical girly girl; I care more about my grades than the color of my nails, I play sports and video games, and I'm also a huge geek and I love Lord of the Rings and Star Wars."
Name: Allie Hisey
School, Sorority & Major: University of Oregon, Delta Delta Delta, Psychology (Pre-Med)
"I have goals to become a pediatric surgeon. I work weekends in the hospital as opposed to the party scene that sorority girls are "expected" to take part in and enjoy the support that my sisters give me. Through them, I have found so many amazing opportunities to grow as an individual and towards my medical career goals. I've found my passion and support to pursue it through this sisterhood."
Name: Shannon Glenn
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Alpha Gamma Delta, Criminal Justice
"I am every sorority girl in the media because I have embraced the stereotypes and become better for it. I am incredibly average, and I always have been, but I finally realized that average was not a bad thing. I have never been the best at anything, but I am able to do everything. I am not only a senator for my college, but I also am the Assistant Director of Rebel Relay for Life, a brand Ambassador for Amazon Student, and I work for a non-profit organization in my 'spare time.' I also volunteer my time helping my school and community. I do not have time to party, but I still seem to fit it in. I have had internships in semi-pro baseball and with my previous college where I was a student-athlete on a full scholarship before I transferred to UNLV. I realized that so many people saw me as a stereotype, I embraced it and took 'average' to a whole different level. I love my stereotypes because they give me that much more fire to prove everyone wrong every day."
Name: Caitlin Valley
School, Sorority & Major: Colorado School of Mines, Alpha Phi, Petroleum Engineering
"I'm an engineering major who focuses on school in a sorority where your GPA is more important than the amount parties you go to!"
Name: Pam Alcala
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Alpha Gamma Delta, Interdisciplinary Studies
"An obvious response would be that I am not a bombshell blonde, nor is my ethnicity 100 percent American. I'm a first generation Asian American who came into Greek life for the networking opportunities. There wasn't a thought in my mind that influenced me to join Greek life for the parties and the peppy image of Starbucks and glitter. I'm also a girl that loves hip hop and R&B, sneakers, and being comfortable in my own skin. In the media, sorority girls are portrayed to join and change to conform to the image and ideals of a stereotypical sorority woman. Also, sorority girls aren't portrayed in the media as leaders that want to make a difference in their community and even for their own lives. They aren't portrayed as passionate philanthropists who devote time to raising awareness for crucial issues in the world. I can speak on behalf of my sisters and my friends in Greek life, that sorority girls are much more than what our stereotypes convey."
Name: Keely Benedict
School, Sorority & Major: University of Oregon, Delta Delta Delta, Political Science
"I am proactive about my future which includes reproductive health. I am a sexual woman, however, I am responsible and take charge of it myself through contraception methods. I currently work at Planned Parenthood and I'm helping with movement in keeping reproductive healthcare accessible to all. I am also not a sex object for men to look at. I think of that scene from 'The House Bunny' where all of the 'nerdy' turned beautiful girls are walking with their arms linked. In the film, they are finally valued because men find them attractive. I am so much more than that, and so are my sisters. We are strong, unique, and caring women who have so much more to give to this world than what the media and Hollywood portray us to be."
Name: Jenny Navoa
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Alpha Delta Pi, Biology (Pre-Professional)
"I am not incredibly girly. I don't really party that hard. I wear black a lot. I focus a great deal on my studies unlike sorority girls in the media. The media typically portrays sorority girls as dumb and incredibly superficial. I do not feel that I am a stupid individual, if that makes sense. I also am not really concerned with superficial features or traits when it comes to people."
Name: Michelle Quizon
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Alpha Gamma Delta, Mechanical Engineering
"I am not superficial or 'dumb.' I have ambitions, so although I am feminine. I love fashion, beauty sleep, and puppies like the next sorority girl. I refuse to let materialistic things define me. I'm a mechanical engineering major, in the Tau Beta Phi Engineering Honor Society. I have a 3.68 cumulative GPA and I am a junior. I intend to find the cure to diabetes, through biomechanics and biomaterials research. I am an elite raw powerlifter. I also enjoy Olympic lifting and Crossfit. I'm also a pageant queen."
Name: Megan Acosta
School, Sorority & Major: University of Oregon, Delta Delta Delta, Human Physiology
"I didn't rush this year and join my sorority to get into all the raging parties. There are no parties through my sorority. There's no alcohol in the house. There's just the girls, and as a freshman, I'm doing all that I can to get to know each of them because I know that we're all amazing individuals. I'm in it for the friendships and sisterhood and for all the love that each of us has for each other. I am Megan Acosta and I have integrity and self-respect and that's what makes me different from a stereotypical sorority girl."
Name: Alexis Jones
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Delta Zeta, Criminal Justice
"I feel as though the stereotypical sorority girl that is portrayed in media resembles a wealthy, self-absorbed image that only sole focuses on a 'Greek lifestyle' (parties, boys, socials, lots of drama). Greek life truly is something you will never understand until you are actually involved yourself. It's hard work. You have to balance school, work, your personal life and Greek life altogether and as important as my chapter and sisters are to me my future and career are far more important. A sorority can be a great stepping stone in college to gain insight, network and become a true woman if you let it. My chapter has made me grow in ways I never thought I could. I'm more financially responsible, I'm classy, I portray myself well at all times possible (this is real life, everyone has bad days), and I use the resources available to me to do well in all aspects of my life. Delta Zeta has been a true blessing in disguise for me."
Name: Jessica Davis
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Alpha Gamma Delta, Nursing
"I am not a stereotypical sorority girl because I don't go out very much or enjoy drinking to excess. I consider myself to be intelligent and I get decent grades. I make sure school comes first and I don't make my life all about the sorority all the time."
Name: Sadie Kavalier
School, Sorority & Major: University of Oregon, Delta Delta Delta, Business
"I don't spend all of my free time partying. In fact, most of my time is spent preparing for my mock trial competitions. I'm trying to get ready for my future as a lawyer."
Name: Cheyenne Leonard
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Alpha Gamma Delta, Criminal Justice & Psychology
"Although I am very girly, I’m not your stereotypical sorority girl because I don’t go out partying every weekend. I’d rather stay home and watch Netflix, go to dinner, or have a chill night with my friends. I care a lot about my grades and my education is very important to me so I will turn down social activities if I have schoolwork that needs to get done. I’m also in a wheelchair, something that never comes to mind when you think of a sorority girl. However, I don’t let my disability define me or the things I do and my sisters have supported me and accepted me for who I am. I’m also half Mexican, which goes against the stereotypical, white sorority girl that everyone pictures. I’m proud to say my sorority accepts all different types of people and I do not have to mold myself to the stereotypes to feel welcome."
Name: Samantha Kin
School, Sorority & Major: University of Oregon, Delta Delta Delta, Business
"I think I am different from the stereotypical sorority woman portrayed in the media because my main priority while being at college is my academic career. Above all, I take school very seriously. When it comes to having fun, I am not a big partier, and I do not drink or smoke."
Name: Shelby Goldberg
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Sigma Sigma Sigma, Hospitality Management
"I am not blonde, I am not a size zero, and I focus on things other than just talking to boys and partying."
Name: Kristina Wells
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Zeta Tau Alpha, Stage and Screen Acting
"Personally, I don't go out very often so the stereotype of ‘sorority girls going out and getting drunk 24/7’ doesn't apply to me, or most other sorority girls. I also am not 'dumb'. I'm currently in seven classes this semester and am taking on a minor. There’s also the stereotype that sorority girls only associate with each other and spend their time exclusively with their sisters or fraternities. Not true. Some of my best friends aren't in Greek life. Some are also in different sororities. I also have a job and audition as much as I can on top of my classes, which leaves some time to socialize, but not a lot. I use sorority for connections, friendships, good times that will make awesome memories, and service to enhance my college experience, not overrun it. Sorority girls also raise money for wonderful causes. That tends to be overlooked as well."
So as you can see, these ladies are much more complex than what many stereotype them as. So am I.
Name: Juliana Frisoli-Bolton
School, Sorority & Major: UNLV, Alpha Gamma Delta, Journalism (Integrated Marketing and Communications)
I'm different from a stereotypical sorority girl because I've never fit into one box. I'm a complex person and you can't wedge me into one particular label. I'm not a girly girl, never have been. I work hard for what I want and my idea of fun isn't getting drunk at a fraternity party. I'd rather stay in and have a game night with friends than go out to a party. I got a 4.0 last semester, which more than doubled my GPA from the previous year. I'm one of the most open-minded and accepting people you'll ever meet. I love people from all walks of life. Materialistic things don't matter to me. I live life for experience and adventure. You're way more likely to find me at yoga than at the mall. I've never dated a fraternity man and have many friends outside of Greek life. I believe service and sisterhood are the most important aspects of a sorority and firmly believe that our mind is our greatest resource. I'm thankful for the friends and family Alpha Gamma Delta has brought me and know that my sorority has helped me to grow as a person.
We are sorority women. We are more than a stereotype and you can't put us into a box. Next time when you meet someone, get to know them before you judge them. Keep an open mind because you never know how wonderful the person standing right in front of you can truly be.
