Nope. Not a sorority girl.

Reason #1. I'm not a girl. My 7-year old niece is one.

Reason #2. I wasn't a very good "stereotypical" sorority girl, if that means having an expensive car, liking beer pong and dating guys in fraternities. Most of my best friends are GDI, and the boy is about a 180 from any man in a fraternity.

boy is a bigger insult than frat

Call it dumb, but I think there's a difference between calling a son a boy and calling someone else a frat boy. I think in a societal context, to a lot of people the term frat boy is demeaning and they use it in a demeaning manner -- although I will admit that not everyone who says it probably means it that way.

Even at that, I call our son, our son as opposed to our boy. Same with our daughters -- they're our daughters, not our girls. Mrs. DeltAlum is much more likely to use boy and girl when talking about the kids. Maybe it's Just A Mom thing. (Play on words intended)

I also suspect that as your son grows a bit older, he may object to being called frat boy. I doubt, though, that he will ever object to being called your boy.

At least that's the way I see it.

As for frat vs. fraternity -- I strongly prefer the second, but the first only really bothers me when used with "boy."

DeltaAlum, thanks, I could not have said it any more better!:)

JWOW, I am sorry, and you know how much I love you, and I was told so,---!

But what you posted is different than what we were talking about! J_Son will always be your Little Boy Just as J-Daughter will always be your little Girl!:)

But J-Son will maybe be my Brother and that will make you My Auntie JWOW!:cool:

Hell, to me there are no boys or girls here, They are all KIDS to Me!

But, I love everyone of them with everything I have! Slow night, only talked to KITSO, JONO, Op Prime!:cool:

This story my mom told me today reminded me of this thread. Today at work, my mom was talking to 2 of her co-workers. One of her co-workers who she said can be obnoxious at times knew that I'm in a sorority because my mom's mentioned it in the past (my mom's not Greek). The other woman's son had just gone off to college and was having a hard time adjusting. So my mom told her to give him some time, that maybe he'll join some activities, maybe he'll join a fraternity. The woman said, "Oh no way he would never join a fraternity!" And the obnoxious woman said, "Yeah sororities aren't all that good either because the girls are all snobby." My mom replied that not all women in sororities are snobby and that my sister and I both loved our Greek experiences. I love reminiscing about Delta Gamma with my parents, and I couldn't be prouder to be a sorority woman!

I don't believe there are typical fraternity/sorority people... there are snobs and there are people who are down to earth!

Basically, I tend to think words are just words...usually.
The tone in which those words are delivered says so much more than how we, as the ones listening, define them.

Honestly, I do try to speak and use terms that aren't offensive, but I just can't get all that worked up on this issue. Especially since I grew up with the term "frat" as compared to "fraternity".
Realistically, if someone intends to throw out a "put down", all it takes is a delivery style known as the "velvet glove".


MysticCat81 I agree with several of your points.
The funny thing is, I too really doubt non Greeks or anti Greeks have given this much thought. Sure some may be perceptive and realize it's considered a rub, but for the most part, I really don't think they care enough to have examined the topic.

Trust me, Billy -- the older I get, the more I appreciate being called "boy" from time to time. True, I wouldn't be happy if someone called me a boy to suggest that I am immature or "less than a man." But when used to suggest I'm young at heart or still have a youthful energy and sense of fun, it's even more flattering than getting carded! (And it lasts until one of my kids says something that makes me feel so old again! ;) )

I think you are exactly right. That's why I think explaining why the term is considered derogatory is preferable to the "would you call your country..." retort.

I agee with that. But I'd still rather hear Fraternity Man. I think it's more complimentary, and I don't have to try to interpret whether "fratboy" is meant to be demeaning.

It makes my brain hurt. What little I have left.

Done and done.

Sometimes I wish I was that sterotypical sorority girl who looks perfect all the time. Her hair, make-up, and clothes are perfect. I have to wear a ugly green uniform shirt to work 4 days a week. I work 2 shifts during those 4 days. It's hard to try to look pretty and perfect when you have to go to work at 6:30 a.m. Mon-Thurs. So the only time I can really make myself look pretty is when I go out. I'm not saying that I look bad it just I feel bad and not attractive when I have to wear my "work" blue jeans and my work shirt pretty much everyday except for fridays and the weekend that I do not work.

Isn't that a country music act?

LOL, I have no clue, I don't listen to country.

Trust me they don't exist I waiter for Gamma Phi Beta and even the most beautiful girls have there scuzzy no makeup, undone hair, just came down for food look.... oh well they are still cute to me ;)