Stereotypes

I don't know exactly what you guys went to during the conference over the weekend, but a topic addressed by a few of the speakers I listened to was, of course, the stereotypes of greek life. Do we live them or do we break them?

It was actually during my first hot topic. Amanda, Qi, Brandon, and myself were all there. Maybe a couple others were hiding in other places. But this is what he did: when he asked for stereotypes about sororities, only guys could answer; when he asked for stereotypes about fraternities, only girls could answer. Let me tell you what a few people said.

Fraternities

• Beer
• Alcoholics
• Sloppy
• Players
• Tools
• Parties

Sororities

• Slutiness
• Ditzy
• Dramatic
• T-Shirts
• Fake
• Conniving
• Drunks (To which he responded, "And whose beer do they drink?" followed by a resounding chorus from the boys, "OURS!")
• Ugg boots and leggings as pants

People laughed when the stereotypes were called out. Was it a, "Haha, soooo true!" or a, "Haha, that's soooo what everyone thinks!"? Either way, isn't it sad? The fact is that we all hate the stereotypes. Maybe it originally steered you away from greek life. I know it did for me. I was NOT planning on joining a sorority, solely because I didn't feel like dealing with the stereotypes it would load upon me. But even though we hate them.... we still acknowledge they're somewhat true.

When you were reading the lists, and you skimmed over the worst ones, did someone specific come to mind? "Alcoholic. That is John to a T." "Drunken slut.... Jane, am I right?!" And yet we still have the audacity to be MAD when the newspapers pigeonhole us. OF COURSE they pigeonhole us. You know why? Because we pigeonhole ourselves. Even if we say that there are those that stand out from the crowd, those that do care about our ritual, we do nothing to change our friends who do embody the stereotype. They party all day, all night, while they sleep, while they eat. Drinking is a part of THEIR ritual. What's the point of wearing clothes when it's so freeing to streak through the streets? Why wear seat belts when they have to yell out windows at all the girls or guys they think are attractive?


The show I was watching not hours ago that inspired this post and reminds us that this really IS what people think about greek life -- While simultaneously being just something fun to watch.

So I ask you a question:

Q: What's the difference between greeks partying and "independents" partying?
A: Everyone KNOWS who we are. Your letters are emblazoned across your chest, even when you don't wear them. So keep that in mind when you're taking your 24th shot. At the end of the night, Ingrid Independent will go back to her dorm and wake up and one more freshman will have had a good time. At the end of our nights, we'll go back to our homes and wake up and everyone will know that AB sorority parties hard. All the time. Even if it's not true.


And here's another question:

Q: What have you done to help others change the stereotype today?
A: TBA.