GREEK LIFE SORORITY LITERACY Amy Flynn OVERVIEW Definition

GREEK LIFE: SORORITY LITERACY Amy Flynn

OVERVIEW § § § Definition of Sorority Discourse History Regular activities of Sorority Women What Sorority’s Stand For Society Perceptions Of Sorority Women The Future of Sororities

SORORITY DISCOURSE A group of university women that come together for social reasons. Recruitment Rituals and Sisterhood It’s a discourse within a discourse A language of its own (Its all Greek to Me)

PAST § § Women formed these “Secret Societies’ Form various motives The main idea was to have a self governing organization Infiltrating particular social circles Female identity among male dominated society

PRESENT Mission Statement (Example) Fraternity is an organization of women, which seeks for every member throughout her life bonds of friendship, mutual support, opportunities for self-growth, respect for intellectual development and an understanding of and an allegiance to positive ethical principles.

OUTSIDER § Interviewee #1 § Cost § The feeling of insincerity and fake § Interviewee #2 § Don’t really know about it § Stories of Hazing/Partying Questions: 1. Would you join a sorority? Why or why not? 2. What is who perception of a sorority girl? 3. Where do you believe you got this perception? (last two answered on next slide)

OUTSIDER § § § Stereotypes/Media Drinking/Partying “Paying for friends” Getting the “Mrs. ” Degree Hazing Daddy’s Credit Card

INSIDER • Interviewee #2 • Involvement in so much more. • Opportunities for career connections • Exposure to diversity of involvement • Scholarship Opportunities • Self Governing organizations • Interviewee #4 • Sisterhood Bonds • Volunteering for Communities • Held to a high standard Questions: 1. Why did you join a sorority? 2. What benefits do you feel come from being involved in a Greek organization? Negatives? 3. What do you think are the Societal perceptions of Greek Life?

INSIDER § Lots of involvement within chapter § Requirements are extensive § Dues § Grades § Standards § Attendance

STATISTICS OF DEVELOPMENT • • About 1800 - 7% of the total full-time undergraduate student population are Greek Raised $53, 404 for Make-A-Wish Foundation for Greek Week Volunteered over 30, 000 community service hours and raised over $100, 000 for other philanthropies Had nearly 700 programs and events Attained a 3. 141 All-Greek GPA, exceeding the All-University average 1, 364 (63%) of Greeks were in one or more other campus or community organizations, and hold over 600 leadership positions Over $100, 000 in merit- and need-based scholarships was awarded by our fraternities and sororities to their members 13 of our fraternities and sororities were recognized by their national fraternity or other inter/national fraternal conference for organizational and individual member excellence.

FUTURE § Future of Sororities is ever evolving § The identity of each Greek Organization is different in each organization § The number of chapters and new charters is ever growing § Here at the University of Cincinnati the number of women going through Formal Sorority Rush is getting larger every year § At UC the “small” Greek community impacts the Campus and City tremendously

SOURCES Interviews with 2 Non affiliated and 2 Members "Greek Life, University of Cincinnati. " Greek Life, University of Cincinnati. Web. 06 June 2012. <http: //www. uc. edu/greeklife. html>.