When sororities were first founded, they were filling an important need on college campuses as a place for collegiate women to come together. Sororities were one of the first instances of feminism, but today, they have a negative reputation. Sororities and fraternities provide true friendships and they engage in charity year-long. Greek life does not deserve the poor reputation that follows it.
“In the mid-19th century, previously all-male universities began to admit women, and many women students felt it was in their best interest to band together,” according to the National Panhellenic Conference.
Women may have finally been able to study at these universities, but the campuses were not welcoming to them at first. Starting an all-women organization on campus was not an easy thing to do, but the women persevered. Sororities began to form as a place on campus for them to support one another. Although women have now gained the right to vote and no longer face the same societal restrictions, that kind of support system still exists within sororities today.
One of the biggest misconceptions about sororities is that they are just a way to pay for friends.
“That couldn’t be further from the truth,” a senior public relations major in Alpha Omicron Pi Emilie Hanes said. “While I do pay to be in the sorority, I’ve made some actual friends.”
Hanes said the best part about being Greek is the friends that come with it. The foundation of a friendship can be based on a number of things. She has a tight-knit group of five friends that not only hang out on campus but go on vacations together as well.
Another misconception about sorority women is that they do not take their philanthropies seriously.
“Each year, NPC affiliated collegians and alum donate more than $5 million to worthy causes, provide $2.8 million in scholarships to women and volunteer 500,000 hours in their communities,” according to the NPC. Half-hearted participants wouldn’t yield those kinds of numbers.
“Our national philanthropy is the arthritis foundation, so we do a corn hole tournament every year,” Hanes said. “Sometimes we do a 5K, but it just depends on the year. We raise money, and it gets sent to them.”
Other sororities on campus have philanthropies such as Autism Speaks, Building Strong Girls and Children’s Miracle Network. Each sorority has a different philanthropy and a different way to raise money, but it all goes to good causes in the end.
Although progress has been made since the mid-19th century, sororities continue to be an important resource for college women. Women no longer need to fight for the same restrictions, but they still need to band together to fight the issues of the 21st century.
“Members provide support for the victims of sexual assault, lead bystander intervention programs designed to prevent sexual violence on campus and fight for body-positive campus cultures,” according to the NCP.
Sororities focus on the advancement of their members both socially and academically. Not only do sororities provide long-lasting friendships and community service opportunities, but they also provide lessons that are not taught in the classroom. Any college woman could benefit from being a part of a Greek organization as sororities are so much more than the poor reputation that haunts them.
