It's a regular Thursday night on the Saint Leo University campus, it's quiet out with the exception of those getting ready for a night out. A group of women from Alpha Sigma Tau sorority sit cozily wedged onto a couch sharing pizza and blankets as they decide which scary movie to watch tonight, and shared old memories of fun nights and events they have attended together.
Not too long ago, the notion of being a member of a sorority was viewed through an entirely different perspective. Many believed the groups were comprised of "perfect" look a like girls, with no goals beside being pretty, partying and eventually getting married to someone most likely a member of a fraternity. Sororities were where you "pay" for fake friends and were the kind of elitist and exclusionary groups that any basic feminist would fight against, right?
The history of Greek organizations is rich with intellect and scholarship. In fact, the original purpose of Greek sororities is to serve as a self governing group of women who would meet weekly in secret to discuss literature, current events and politics as well as topics not being discussed in their courses. The first sororities were known as women's fraternities, as men's fraternities were already in place, and women wanted the right to meet freely and equally as well. The founding Greek women wanted to create these societies in order for future women to meet and discuss scholarly topics in the same manner men were, on equal ground and footing.
As time has progressed, incoming college students across the country have gone Greek. More and more women became interested in the concept of women in a large group, and have abandoned the antiquated idea that sororities were just party girls with no ambition. I confess, even as an incoming freshman I believed I would never be a sorority woman but I was wrong and I have never been more relieved to have been wrong. You see, being in a sorority is so much more than lemonade stands and friends to have lunch with as many outsiders view these organizations.
Being in a sorority means having unconditional support from women who share the same values as you and centuries of women have shared. It's beyond the overused and incorrect stereotype shoved down our throats from a young age. You can support women who are seeking a higher education (just like yourself) in order to have a lasting career. As a sorority woman, you have the ability to raise attention and money for causes and charities as a collective group, effectively helping more than you would have been able to on your own. You have the chance to stand for a cause, or for a sister in need because you are a family. If building each other up and supporting each others ambitions isn't feminist, I'm not entirely sure what is.
In fact, those who demean another woman's decision to pledge a Greek organization aren't behaving as feminist themselves. The worst, and rudest, thing you can do is judge or knock any woman based on her life decisions, including going Greek. Sorority women are bright and ambitious. We are scholars, we are leaders and dreamers just like everyone else our age.
Yes, some of us love dressing up and putting on our makeup, but that does not mean we aren't feminists. Yes, we have a crazy recruitment week and we chant loudly, but we also chant to support equal pay and gender equality in our future workplaces and offices. We are the next CEO's and presidents of major corporations, we are the leading feminists of our generation. Feminism thrives to the very heart of sorority life. The next time someone says a sorority woman can't be ambitious as well as "girly," ask yourself if it truly is sorority women who aren't feminists, or if the person tearing down the supportive and progressive organizations we take part in is.
