Two immaculate wooden doors slammed open. Sweat dripped profusely from my face. I pulled down my mini skirt hoping to appear “cute, but professional.” Hundreds of college women around me chanted their chapter’s name with enthusiasm.
This was just a few months ago. It was my first day of rush, prior to joining a sorority at Washington University in St. Louis.
Today, I’m rethinking my involvement in Greek life at large. I myself, as a cis-gendered white woman, felt intimidated by the rush process. Caught up in my own angst, I didn’t think about the additional pressures my BIPOC peers would face during this process.
Inside those immaculate doors, the percentage of privileged white women was alarming. But my hope to find my place and my people consumed me, so I disregarded the inherent lack of diversity in Greek culture.
Just a few months, a global pandemic, and mass protests later, I have become more aware of my ignorance. I utilize every day to further educate myself on the deep-rooted racism in this country.
Greek life was founded in order to provide a sense of belonging and community for college students. However, this sense of belonging is often created through one common identity. This creates a clear divide of who fits in the system and who doesn’t. Within this division lies power inequality. While focusing on fraternities, The Century Foundation notes that “while only 2 percent of America’s population is involved in fraternities, 80 percent of Fortune 500 executives, 76 percent of U.S. senators and congressmen, 85 percent of Supreme Court justices, and all but two presidents since 1825 have been fraternity men…” These statistics evidence that Greek life thrives on the power of the powerful — both in the past and present.
Furthermore, The Century Foundation notes that Princeton conducted research that found that 77 percent of sorority members and 73 percent of fraternity members were white on their college campus. This is a system created by and for the white elite.
I find discussion the most essential component of personal learning and growth. Recently, I reached out to women, both in and out of Greek life, BIPOC and white, straight and queer for insight. All the opinions shared with me fell into two categories: abolish Greek life, or reform it. No matter your stance, I urge you to question your power, your involvement and your relation to the systems you are a part of. I hope that this discourse will allow college women to reflect on their own experiences through the lens of others.
Abolish Greek Life
Systemic racism pervades this country to its core. Greek life is optional for college students at my college campus, and often students of color (as well as low-income and LGBTQ students) are deterred from joining. For this very reason, the women I spoke with fear an exclusionary system and don’t believe it can be altered. To them, abolition is necessary.
“White supremacy and elitism are embedded within every aspect of Greek life. To deny this or ignore its material effects is an abhorrent misuse of power and access. I am guilty of this. I benefited from the lightness of my skin and my proximity to whiteness among many other structural advantages. And not a single warm sisterhood memory or reform initiative can confront this. I love the people my chapter brought into my life, but I am sickened by what it took to connect with them. For that reason, I am actively working to abolish Greek life on my campus.” – Eden*
“Consider taking the money you originally allocated to your monthly dues and putting it towards monthly reparations. Invest in the people that Greek life has historically harmed. Donate to organizations that support BIPOC, survivors and other marginalized groups. If you’d like to make an impact closer to home, support affinity spaces for marginalized groups at your own college…Lastly, just because a few individual minorities support Greek life, doesn’t mean the system isn’t fundamentally inequitable.” – Jade*
“I have chosen to deactivate from my chapter because I have observed the socioeconomic divisions and unnecessary elitist culture fraternity and sorority life has created on campus, and do not want to further contribute my funds and efforts to an institution that I do not believe can ever truly achieve equity.” – Jasmine*
“I encourage others to listen to those who are hurt by the many ‘isms’ of fraternity and sorority life, and to think critically about how BIPOC would be a part of a ‘reformation’ – how would you elevate their voices and provide not just inclusion, but foster a true sense of belonging?” – Amanda*
Reform Greek Life
Reform will require more than mere criticism and optimistic statements. For those who are determined to change the system, there are questions ahead: How can we include BIPOC women without tokenizing them? How do we enforce change nationally?
“I am a BIPOC, although not Black, and I do hold privileged identities that have perpetuated some of the issues surrounding Greek life. While I have never felt marginalized or silenced during my time in a Greek organization thus far, I do acknowledge that other BIPOCs have had different experiences. Instead of being afraid to advocate for my viewpoint, I believe that my identity makes it even more important to do so.” – Mia*
“By attending a predominantly white institution, I am complicit in different systems that uphold problematic and oppressive societal issues. Dropping Greek life does not make you less complicit. The conversations I have been a part of have people who are centering their white, cis, straight experiences, and speaking over those with marginalized identities. If your activism is informed by your personal ideas of morality, and silences the people that you are trying to defend, it’s a savior complex.” – Monica*
“I acknowledge that Greek life is very very problematic. I don’t plan to leave the organization because I would rather try and better it, since it will still exist.” – Taylor*
“I disagree with the notion that the only path forward is abolition. You’ve broken down systems that allow for racial discrimination, but have you educated the people who were participating in these groups?” – Naomi*
Going Forward
No matter the future of Greek life, we are responsible for promoting minority presence and points of view in all realms of our daily lives. With the goals of diversity and inclusion, think hard, and think realistically. Change is necessary, and because our generation, change is near.
*Name(s) have been changed.