When someone says "sorority girl," many people have a stereotypical picture in their mind. Perhaps influenced by Reese Witherspoon's portrayal of Elle Woods in Legally Blonde, sorority women are often quickly labeled. But many of these stereotypes are both inaccurate and unfair to members of National Panhellenic Conference sororities.
Sorority Women All Look the Same
While it is true that some sorority chapters seem to go for a certain “look,” this is by far the exception, not the rule. Most sororities prefer a mix of women who will bring a certain level of diversity to the chapter. This includes welcoming sisters of different ethnic backgrounds.
Sorority Girls Don’t Care about Grades and Just Want to Party
All sorority chapters are accountable to their national organizations to meet certain grade requirements. Chapters that don’t meet those requirements are disciplined. Low grades are one of the first reasons a potential new member will be dropped during recruitment as the chapter doesn’t need the extra responsibility of dealing with members who aren’t able or willing to achieve good grades.
On many campuses the all sorority average usually exceeds the average for all women on campus. Sororities are very competitive amongst themselves to have the highest chapter GPA among all of the groups.
Sorority Members Lack Morals and Character
The vast majority of sorority women in America are hardworking and honest women who are a credit to their organization. It is unfortunate that a small group of sorority women who do lack strong moral character are those who garner the most attention.
But most sorority women are interested in getting a good education and preparing for a rewarding professional and personal life after college. They contribute to their respective philanthropies and are active on campus. Many are religious and take their faith seriously. Sorority women are generally held to a much higher moral standard than their fellow college students because they can lose their membership for actions not befitting a member.
Sorority Women Buy Their Friends
One of the common misconceptions is that sorority women buy their friends. Because it costs money to belong to a sorority, people assume that this is the equivalent of buying their friends. This is not the case. Sorority dues and membership fees go to a variety of places, primarily associated with keeping the sorority functioning. House or suite upkeep and national dues are a significant part of the cost. Like most groups, there is a financial cost involved. But this is true with athletic and musical groups as well so sororities are not unique in having a financial aspect involved in membership.
The sorority life is a fantastic opportunity for many college women. Despite the unfair and inaccurate stereotypes that abound, women continue to join sororities for the many benefits including life-long friendships, leadership opportunities, and philanthropic contributions.
Sallie Schaaf Borrink - Sallie Borrink is a professional writer with extensive experience with business clients, the consumer market, and online destinations.
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