Sororities tend to get a bad rep. from society. The media uncovers horrifying hazing stories that spread like wildfire across the United States. Movies depict sorority girls as being trashy, sloppy drunks, stumbling over their too-high heels just to “accidentally” expose what should be hidden by their too-short skirts. They flirt shamelessly with taken boys…girlfriends aren’t stop signs; they’re just speed bumps, right?
Since a sorority chapter on the other side of the country (unfortunately) chose to haze their members, that must mean that all sororities haze, right? Film producers must have done their research to prove that every single sorority woman’s mission is to get disgustingly drunk so she can be carried home from the bar. Guys that are in a committed relationship must emit some special pheromones that make them so much more appealing than single ones, right?
WRONG. Nasty, dishonest rumors about what people assume goes on in sororities are spread every day. Women constantly bash other women, judging them based on what their predetermined sorority “stereotype” is. Women are supposed to empower other women, not belittle them. As a member of Greek Life at Loyola University Chicago, I have become increasingly aware of these stereotypes. I have witnessed first-hand the troubled look that plasters itself onto peoples’ faces as soon as I mention my belonging to Greek Life. These stereotypes need to be obliterated before they destroy the respect women have for other women:
1) All sorority women are ditzy.
Movies always portray sorority women as being, well… dumb. They’re hardly ever members of an honor’s society and the last thing they’ll be caught doing is staying in on a Friday night (*GASP!) to study. Society seems to think that sorority women revel in being considered dumb, that’s how we get all the guys, right? This could not be any further from the truth. Greek life at Loyola takes pride in developing men and women into strong, successful leaders. Most sororities also have a GPA requirement, so there is not a lot of room to slack off on studies. Many of the women I have encountered in Greek Life are taking on big projects and are doing big things with their lives; with their sisters to support them, they feel empowered to challenge themselves.
2) “Sorostitutes”
Ah yes, the infamous portmanteau. Those “mixers” we go to sound like bad news. What most don’t know is that the purpose of mixers is for members of a particular sorority or fraternity to have the opportunity to meet other members of Greek life. Yes, actually meet, as in have a legitimate conversation, and most of the fraternity men we meet become lifelong friends.
3) In order to become one of “us,” we’re going to have to haze you first. #SorryNotSorry
MYTH. Just because a chapter from a different university is caught hazing doesn’t mean that all sororities partake in that kind of activity. Loyola has a zero tolerance policy for hazing, and keeps a very close watch to make sure that hazing is nonexistent in the recruitment process.
4) We pay for our friends.
The money that we pay in dues goes to national chapters so that they can continue to exist. We pay to promote the organization because we agree with its values, not to “buy” our friends. Sororities tend to have a strong sisterhood because the women are alike, and therefore get along exceptionally well. Our dues didn’t make that happen! Just like any sport, or organization, you pay to participate because you love what you’re becoming a part of and you make friends that last a lifetime, and that’s something money can’t buy.
As a member of Loyola Greek life, I think that I speak for all when I say that I have met some of the most incredible women both inside and outside of sorority life. Many girls join sororities to find a place where they belong on campus, not to be deemed “sorostitute” or any of the other indecent terminology I’m sure you’re all familiar with. Let’s stomp out the malicious stereotypes, and instead try turning over a new leaf: respecting one another