No doubt. I think we're all guilty here.

ETA: why do you elect to make things personal. I'm not accusing any particular users of anything, and yet you take my comments very personally, and then respond in kind. I find it kind of weird, actually.

I'm not going down that path with you, but thanks. I'm sure you'll find plenty to write anyway.

You mean about the founders? Didn't you bring them up?

I enjoy discussing issues on Greek Chat. I make no apologies for sharing my ideas and opinions. I think it's what we do here.

I would say, more often than not, it is not used as a tear-down, particularly in a peer-to-peer conversation.

I think this probably depends a lot on the campus and how common it is for anyone to use the terms.

My impression is that the term may have kind of peaked in a lot of places in it's original insulting sense and is now more likely to be used as an intended joke than as an intended insult, but I don't really know.

I find it more ironic that it was the subject of an opinion piece at Cal in 2001.

http://www.dailycal.org/article/5525/sorostitutes

At first I was expecting a discussion of the term, did I miss something?

1) It isn't a new term.
2) It was being used by a guy as far from the SEC as possible, seven years ago.
3) He's discussing the stereotypes and behavior.

If it's an adjective, what word does it modify? Sorry, English major, and I'm puzzling over this . . .so Mandy, feel free to write a sentence demonstrating its use as an adjective. I've always seen it used as a noun. The definition you gave would seem to be more what is meant when someone is called a "Barbie", or is a member of a "Barbie chapter", which I'm not crazy about, but is not nearly as derogatory.

And fwiw, I'm not "worked up" - I get worked up about lots of things, but this isn't one of them. I'm disturbed that women would call other women this, and that men would think it's acceptable, but it's not at the level of "worked up" I get about things like issues of more import.

We all have to fight the stereotypes - and I think one way to do it is to treat our sisters and fellow greeks with respect. (Heck, as long as I'm being high-minded, how about not using language that is offensive in referring to anyone? ) I know that there has been a discussion of overhearing sorority women talking poorly about another chapter - when we indulge in that kind of behavior, we contribute to the idea that we are nothing but catty, superficial women concerned only with status.

I can't believe that got printed. Terribly written with no punches. I won't go English paper on his ass and start pulling out citations, but a lot of his comments weren't substantiated with the examples I was expecting.

It's used a la the Barbie chapter phrase. For example: "XYZ is the epitome of a sorostitute chapter; I never see one leave the house without Chanel sunglasses or Citizen jeans."

You are right that is also commonly used as a noun. For example: "Susie is such a sorostitute with that swooped, blonde hair, deep tan, and Gucci purse!"

This is so sad for me to admit but I skipped over the title and went directly to the article expecting a discussion of the term itself. I did actually read the column to observe points 2 and 3.

Thanks for posting it.

Thanks, Mandy.
 

Gotcha - is it usually used more to describe a group, or an individual? I am quite sincere when I say I started this thread to gauge whether or not I was completely off-base with my reaction, and later to figure out how the "young uns" were using it.

Thank you for the examples, Mandy. It's become clear to me that we are arguing over two distinctly different meanings and uses of the word. Apparently, in some corners, the word has morphed into the equivalent of "Barbie sorority girl" and in that context I can see why its use wouldn't be seen as excessively offensive.

However, those of us who believe that it is offensive are looking at its original intended meaning which is clearly derogatory. Personally, I find it sad that this word has become acceptible and I would urge collegians to remember its intent and refrain from using it.

I realize that you really want to hear from Mandy, but I'll share how I've heard the "young uns" use it.

The context that I've seen or heard it included young women teasing each other about being one, a gay guy*, whose entire social universe at the time was women, teasing his friend about becoming one if she went through rush, and then girls, who might not even be Greek, using it to describe articles of clothing or accessories: "I can't find my sorostitute sunglasses" etc.

I've also seen or read non-Greeks use it in the derogatory sense the Cal column covers but never in a terrible-all-inclusive-of-Greek-women way. It covers a certain category of young women in their minds, like the use on overheardinathens.

I've read fraternity guys use it to refer to groups of young women that they thought were hot. It seemed to be used to cover both girls they thought might be "easy" and girls that they respected enough to actually want to have relationships with.

I am in no way trying to say that my experience is definitive usage of the term.

*I mention this guy's sexual orientation simply to establish that there were limits to the kind of control he was interested in having on his friend. He wasn't trying to limit her social options to maximize his chance at a sexual relationship. He was pretty much just kidding her like a girl friend might.