Here it is: I’m going to let you classify, stereotype and group together every sorority with just one tip. Obviously, every girl in their respective sorority is the exact same. If you’ve met one, you’ve met them all. I’ll tell you which ones you need to rush and which ones you have to cut ASAP. I’m going to tell you which sororities are the top tier and very bottom tier. I’ll let you know who has the prettiest girls and gets to hang with the hottest fraternities. After all, that’s literally all sorority life is about!
Okay. Time to cut the sh**. Here’s the tip: Reevaluate yourself and your morals if you believe it’s okay to demean an entire group of women as a result of hearing a rumor or witnessing ONE member’s temporary lapse in judgement.
Not what you were expecting? Good. I can’t tell you how sick and tired I am of hearing girls discuss who is the “top” sorority or how all (insert sorority) are slutty and bitchy. It is just stupid and ridiculous. Surprise! There are beautiful, incredible women in EVERY SINGLE SORORITY. If you have one bad experience with one girl, do you really think it’s fair to define years of rich tradition and secrecy, sacred rituals, devout philanthropy and bonds of sisterhood by it? Sure, we’re told that no matter where or when, we are always wearing our letters and serving as representatives of our sorority. But come on. Do you think of how you represent your OWN letters when you come up with tacky sayings that make fun of sorority’s symbols and perpetuate outrageous stereotypes?
People make mistakes, especially in college, and that’s okay. In fact, that’s why we’re AT college; to learn and grow into adults through trial and error. Think of it like this: if you saw a random woman with brown hair making questionable decisions or having a bad day, would you, from there on out, assume that behavior to be true for EVERY woman with brown hair? I freaking hope not. As ridiculous as that sounds, you're doing the exact same thing when you choose to label an entire sorority based on one event. There are SO many problems with this and I’m going to discuss an important few.
Several of you are probably thinking “wow this girl is just salty because she’s probably in a bottom tier sorority”, and if that’s what you’re thinking, my writing has not been effective enough in this article and I’m sorry. Stop reading. The last thing I want is for people like you to talk about my ideas.
If you AREN’T thinking that, I commend and support you. Here is major problem #1: I’m not sure I really understand the concept of “top tier” and “bottom tier” sororities. Literally how does someone even begin to rank sororities in regards to social standing? What are the parameters for this ridiculous ranking? The system of recruitment, though long and grueling, does work. If you feel that you are at home in your respective house (like I do with mine), then how could there possibly be any kind of “ranking” system? How could somewhere I fit so perfectly and love so dearly be considered “bottom tier”? How could somewhere I barely know at all but did not choose to join/receive a bid be considered "top tier"? Well, I don’t think it can be and I’m not sure how anyone else can think that either.
Major problem #2: we as women in sororities are all a part of a Greek COMMUNITY. Yes, I said community, meaning that we are all working to support one another in our endeavors to have the most awesome Greek experience we possibly can. However, when nasty, unreasonable words start to fly, it can cause divides in the community. Let’s say you spread a really nasty rumor about a sorority. It is highly likely that it will offend a lot of people, especially the women of that sorority. What if they decide they are no longer going to participate in your house’s philanthropy events because they do not condone your cruel actions and intentions? Then, they come up with a stereotype of YOUR sorority and everything falls to you-know-what. Is it really worth all that trouble to make an unnecessary comment? Absolutely not.
So, in closing…
1. Honor your own letters.
2. Respect the letters of others as though they are your own.
3. Take a chance to get to KNOW someone rather than pushing them to the side and slapping a quick and easy label on them.
4. There is no such thing as “top” or “bottom” tier. There is your home and then there is everyone else’s house. This isn't high school anymore, grow up.
6. Have some compassion and be a woman the worldwide Greek community and your sorority would be proud to be represented by.
