Whether we like to admit it or not, society places a stigma on Greek women. We have to fit this certain mold and meet certain expectations. To the outside world, we pay for our friends, are rich and preppy and only joined a sorority to get into all the best frat parties. These are some of the craziest assumptions I have ever heard. A lot of women feel that they must fit into this stigma in order to join a sorority. Personally, I do not fit this mold, and you don’t have to either. Joining a sorority was one of the best things that I have ever done and I wouldn’t change it. What I found was so much more than any of those people who created this stigma could describe.
When I came to college, I knew I wanted to be involved in a sorority. I’m not sure what caught my interest exactly, but it was something I wanted to do. I’ve always been a pretty shy person, so needless to say, sorority recruitment was rather nerve-wracking for me; however, once I went to my now beloved Zeta Tau Alpha’s round of recruitment, I instantly felt at home and accepted for who I was. What I realized in there was that there were different girls from different backgrounds. Some were like me and others were not, which is why I felt so comfortable. I never once felt like I had to fit a certain mold for them to like who I was.
When I joined Zeta, I found a group of women who are loving and lift others up. Sure, we all have our groups we are more close with, but that doesn’t change the fact we are all there for each other if needed. Even though I may not be a “typical” sorority girl, I still feel at home with my sisters. We all have our differences and to me, that’s what being part of a sorority is about.
It came as a surprise to a lot of people when I joined a sorority. You see, all through high school, I was quiet and shy. I was never the outgoing girl in the middle of it all. Instead, I was the one who stood back and stuck to my little circle of friends. Needless to say, joining a sorority was a bit of a culture shock to me when compared to my little hometown high school where I graduated with 67 people in my class. Now, I had close to 100 new sisters to get to know, which was quite overwhelming to be completely honest. Obviously, I was stepping out of my comfort zone, and although it was a bit scary at first, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
So what if you aren’t a “typical” sorority girl? That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the experience just as much as the next girl! Don’t let the negative light others shed on Greek organizations keep you from experiencing it for yourself. If you ask me, I think it’s time to quit placing a stigma on Greek women as a whole. Really and truly, we are just a group of women with a purpose and a set of goals. We are a group of women who come together to help a greater cause. We love and care for others and show that through serving our community and bettering ourselves. A sorority isn’t about the money, the parties or the social status. A sorority is about being part of something bigger than yourself.
Photo credit: Myself