When my freshman year of college approached and I told my family and friends I wanted to rush a sorority, I got three different responses: "why?" "that sounds like fun!" and "you don't look like a 'typical sorority girl.'" Someone please explain to me what a typical sorority girl is because I honestly have no clue.
Before I decided to rush a sorority, I had the same concerns as my family and friends. I, too, believed the stereotypes. I believed that there was a "typical sorority girl" and that I didn't fit the criteria. I thought that all sorority girls did was party and take pictures in their letters. At one point, I questioned whether or not I was pretty enough to be involved in the Greek system.
When movies are based off Greek life, certain stereotypes are put into place: gorgeous, mean, trashy and dumb. When I told people I wanted to be involved with Greek life, they told me I didn't look like a "typical sorority girl" and questioned why I would want to associate with "people like that." While people questioned my choices, I question why they were judging something they knew nothing about?
If there's one thing true about being in a sorority, we are not like the movies. Have you ever seen the movie "Sydney White"? The story follows Amanda Bynes' character through her trial and error of pledging the same sorority her deceased mother was in decades before. The movie pinpoints Sydney as the not-so-typical sorority girl and pinpoints how her appearance and personality differ from the rest of the pledges. In the movie, the active members make the pledges do awful things like stand in a line so they can pinpoint their flaws and tell them what to change about their appearance. They are mean, horrible and stereotype sorority girls as nasty, cruel women. I admit, I do enjoy the movie and always have a good laugh while watching, but the film is far from the truth, as is every other movie based on Greek life.
If I can give you one piece of advice: stop watching movies based on Greek life and stop believing every horrible thing you read on the Internet. You might find it amusing and entertaining, and sadly some of it is true, but Greek life is far from what any movie or article describes it as. Chances are, the people who produce those movies and say horrible things about Greek life have never been involved and have no clue what they are talking about.
Coming from a person who believed the stereotypes and almost didn't rush because of them, Greek life is a life-changing experience in the most magical way. They say when you go through recruitment it all works out in the end and you find your "home-away-from-home." I didn't believe it when I was going through, but I now know it to be true. I am constantly surrounded by women who inspire me to be a better person and work as hard as I can. I am surrounded by future doctors, teachers, journalists, lawyers, etc. I am surrounded by women who are working three jobs on top of being in a sorority, and a number of other clubs. To be involved in Greek life, we are required to maintain a certain GPA, and if we can not keep up with our grades, we must attend study tables. Now please explain how sorority girls are dumb?
Trashy? Don't get me started on trashy. At every formal event we attend, we have a dress code we must abide to. Our shoulders must be covered and our dresses no more than three inches above the knees. If we dress trashy, we will get sent home and could be fined for not making a good impression on our sorority. We are not trashy people. We wear what makes us feel our best and dress to make a good impression.
People always discuss how sorority girls are gorgeous and look perfect all the time. If you have me in any of your classes, sometimes you can find me looking like I just rolled out of bed and you'll more than likely see me eating a bowl of cereal in class because I would rather sleep than look perfect. Sure, I like to dress well and make a good impression, but sorority girls are normal college students. We don't want to wake up any earlier in the morning than you do, and why should we?
When I told people I was rushing a sorority, the first thing I heard was "don't they just party a lot?" Not at all. Sure, we have socials every week and hang out with fraternities, but that doesn't mean we are crazy partiers. You can't stereotype people in Greek life as crazy partiers when we party as much as any other college student. We have more events and parties we attend than most college students, but that doesn't mean we get drunk every weekend. At the events that do involve alcohol, many girls choose to remain sober and have a great time anyways. And just because we have socials planned throughout the month doesn't mean we have to go to all of them. Many of us have skipped our fare share of socials to have a lazy weekend of Netflix and junk food. The people who stereotype sorority girls as crazy partiers probably don't know that chapters throughout the United States raise millions of dollars every year that goes towards their designated charity. Every sorority and fraternity on campus has a designated charity they raise money for. Every chapter holds at least two philanthropy events throughout the year and everyone in Greek life supports each other's events. But of course, the movies don't focus on the wonderful aspects of Greek life and people judge us before they get to know us.
To the people who constantly tell me I "pay for my friends?" Chances are, I don't like you. The money I spend being in a sorority goes towards a variety of things that are highlighted for us. I know what I am paying for, and friends isn't one of them. We pay chapter dues, some of the money goes towards sisterhood events, scholarships, our philanthropy, etc. I'm sorry you don't understand what chapter dues are, but it most definitely isn't paying for a friendship.
As I dive further into freshman year, I can honestly tell you that I have never been happier. While being involved in Greek life isn't for everyone, I couldn't imagine college life any other way. Sorority girls are kind, intelligent and future leaders of the world. My sisters inspire me to be the best version of myself and I couldn't imagine not knowing these wonderful women. Being in a sorority has forced me to get out of my comfort zone and has made me more excited to take on the world because I know I have over 100 sisters by my side and more than 100,000 alum out in the world. Everyone experiences college differently, and I chose to do so by wearing letters. You may not understand Greek life, but please don't judge us. I am not the 'typical sorority girl" because there is no "typical sorority girl." We are all just normal college students who want to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
