BRANDS & TATOOS
 

I HAVE NOTICED THAT MANY MEMBERS OF NPHCs HAVE EITHER BRANDED OR TATOOTED THEIR SORORITY'S OR FRATERNITY'S GREEK LETTERS OR CREST ON TO THEIR SKIN. AFTER SPEAKING TO A MEMBER OF A NPHC SORORITY SHE STATED THAT SHE WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT THAT WAS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE ORGANIZATION AND WHAT IT STOOD FOR. FOR YEARS THE QUEs HAVE BEEN KNOWN FOR THEIR BRANDS AND KAPPAS FOR HAVING TATOOS. I HAVE ALSO SEEN MANY WOMEN IN BLACK SORORITIES WITH THEIR GREEK LETTERS TATOOED ON THEIR BACKS AND ANKLES. HOW DO MEMBERS OF NPHCs FEEL ABOUT THIS? DO YOU FEEL IT IS DISRESPECTFUL TO THE ORGANIZATION, WHETHER IT BE A SORORITY OR FRATERNITY? OR DO YOU FEEL THAT IT IS JUST HAVING PRIDE IN YOUR ORGANIZATION AND REINFORCING YOUR COMMITMENT AND LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP?

I believe that a brand or tattoo is showing pride in your organization. However, if your organization frowns upon this particular display of enthusiasm then one should not engage in such acts. Hey, that's why they sell 'nalia.

Lots of organizations have their emblems, crests, and such copyrighted. They also have to approve of anything with their names on it and any symbols that represent them. So I think that some sororities/fraternities look down upon it as copyright infringement, and because it wasn't approved by nationals or their governing body.

What is the problem with tattoos? I have a tattoo of my letters on my ankle, and several of my friends have all sorts of letter/insignia tattoos. How could this be seen as offensive or disrespectful? To me and many others, it is a sense of pride. To make a committment to a sorority or fraternity is for life. Something permanent like a tattoo is a perfectly acceptable way of honoring that committment. I am not saying everyone should get their letters tattooed, but for some it is a very good expression of their committment and pride.

I do believe that many people frown upon branding because of the part in the history of slavery and ownership. Many people believe that we have some how forgotten why it's use and also because they use branding for animals...Personally i've never had a problem with it.

Branding and tatooing is not for everyone. Some will argue it is a "sin" others will say it is the ultimate confirmation of love of your organizations and still some will say...oooh, that looks like it hurts...no thanks but i will see you at the next conference.

It's all a matter of choice. Personally, I like my Pearls right where they are ALWAYS worn! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif And for those who do not know where that is...please do not ask.



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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO REPLIED.

I would say that it just needs to be covered up somehow.

A lot of Greeks I know got something that was not the crest or letters but was linked with the sorority or fraternity. For example, AST uses the tiger as their mascot, so some of the girls got tiger tattoos. That way people “in the know” get it, but there’s no chance of it creating any sort of negative image for other schools or nationals that might disapprove. I think it depends on the region where you are from, some people would faint at the thought of a female having a tattoo.

As for myself, I’m too chicken to even get my ears pierced so I don’t think I’ll be getting a tattoo any time soon!

Great question SOPHISTICATED1. I would imagine that each organization has some opinionn on it, particularly BGLO. As far as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is concerned, both brands and tatoos of official symbols, letters, etc...are not appropriate.
As far as I am concerned, I don't mind when the Ques get branded because they were the first fraternity to do it and it actually has meaning for them. I really don't like to see brands on anyone other than Ques.

DiSTinguished- you posted the following..
I was just curious, is this an official 'policy' or regulation of the sorority? Or is it something that is just looked down upon? Also, someone (maybe Mikki?) mentioned that most GLOs/BGLOs have their crests, letters, etc. copyrighted.. does this have anything to do with that? If it is something the sorority official takes a stand against, I wonder how many other organizations have official policies/rules on these things?


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SilverTurtle@greekchat.com
Phi Beta Fraternity
Phi chapter

that is a published policy that is punishable by suspension. the organization believes that permanently affixing the symbols or crest to one's body is in poor taste and does not represent the sorority well. now, that is not to say the the policy is abided by. i tend to agree with the policy because there is no way that you can represent the sorority well at all times. and there is no way to remove that decoration. what if a soror was arrested and her DST tat or brand was pictured in her mug shot? i shutter to think about it. i think if you wish to honor the sorority in that manner, you can use an unofficial symbol (if you must). but, certainly not the crest or the symbols.

I usually don't like to see organizational brands or tats in very visible locations on the body for women. This is just my personal opinion. I don't have a problem with brands on fraternity members in general, but DST Brat is correct that visible tats and brands may come back to haunt a member and the organization in the future.

Like FinerWoman's Pearls, I like my Dove where it is always worn! And FinerWoman...if I know my history... http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Shelacious (edited June 07, 2000).]

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gifAnother reason why I love my Sorors!!!!! Yes mam...its understood!



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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

Yikes!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif That would be pretty horrible!

DST BRAT,
THANK YOU FOR EDUCATING THOSE WHO DID NOT KNOW!!!
I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT IT IS AGAINST PROTOCOL.
SOMETHING OF WHICH I STAND FIRM ON!!!!!

IF IT IS WRITTEN YOU MUST ABIDE BY IT!!!!

I know people who are branded in all NPHC organizations. Now it is a matter of choice, but is in frowned upon. For some orgs, it was not a choice or option back say 50-60 years ago. I am not sure who was the first to brand, and but I don't think it was Omega b/c they were Omega Men b4 they switched to the "Que dawg" image...

Anyways, branding has been around within NPHC orgs for decades, like other traditions that folk have tried to stop or change...it's not going to happen...people will continue to get them, whether their Nationals likes it or not...

oh, just so that u know, I don't have a physical brand...but Zeta will always been branded upon my heart :-)

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The Epitome of Style and Grace, Always Exemplifying Good Taste, A Zeta Woman, A Finer Woman, That's Me!

Before we were officially initiated in our sorority, my sisters and I were going to get identical tatoos with the sorority letters. After we became members, we learned that it was in poor taste and actually belittles the organization to brand cherished symbols on body parts. We decided against it, because we would not want to hurt or undermine our beloved sorority in any way.

This is in reference to the comment made by dstbrat. You mentioned a scenario that if one of you members were arrested and their mugshot showed their brand or tatoo. What would be the difference if they were wearing a T-shirt or a charm? I personally have three brands and I don't regret either one. I have never heard of a policy that says anything about branding or tatooing (voluntarily) is against the rules. To me it shows a since of pride. A brand is going to stay with you for the rest of your life, showing your true love for your organization. I am not saying that you have to have one to love your org. but it d**n shows others how much you care. Blue Phi til the day I die.

Pain3_97
My Soror was talking about our Sorority, not PBS, so that is why you never heard of the rule...

PrettyKitty,
As far as who was the first to brand, I actually had been told that the Ques were the first ones (although I won't swear by this since I am not a Que). However, it has nothing to do with Omega versus Q-dog....every brand I have seen has been of the Greek letter Omega (with some variations), but I have NEVER seen a brand of a dog, so you can't use the terminology to date the origins of branding. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

SOPHISTICATED1,
Hope this answers your question....

queen is correct in that i was referring to my sorority in particular. additionally, while brands and such are voluntary actions, images or symbols that are copywritten can be regulated. in our case, that is the justification that National provides. they legally own the right to the symbols and certain images so they can sanction people who use them without permission like vendors and individuals who permanently affix them to their bodies. to me the difference in brands and tats is that they are forever. shirts and charms can be removed.

any new input on this topic????

It's your choice I beleive.

Link to branding article.


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv...ures/brand.htm

For us it's just in our policy that such a thing be not condoned. The policy goes to say that if we do tattoo or brand our letters on ourselves and have sexual intimacy, then the idea is that the guy is pretty much having sex with the rest of the sisters in the chapter.

I once saw some people with branding and it just looked horrible. It's like why would anyone conceive of having such an idea to do so? Some people say it's to show dedication.

My Chapter (which is National) doesn't belive in branding or tatooing with our letters or crest, but there are a lot of us who have gotten a tattoo of our mascot - my self included.

Personally mine is in a ;) discreet place which I can cover up, and it was something I choose to do on my own. There are Frats at my school that required branding or tattooing, for us it's not something that is pressed on anyone, but I think for those of us who have done it, there is a sense of pride.

Then again I think we have a way cute mascot - Yay Ladybugs !!! :D

There are orgs. that require branding and tattoing? Isn't that a little extreme? Not to mention hazing. Getting a tattoo should be a very personal decision and it's not for everyone (I have 3 and love them), but others couldn't do it. To force someone is just wrong!

I totally agree, with you Lady Pi Phi on the hazing thing. Actually the two organizations that do it are both National. One requires getting a tattoo of their organizations letters on the ankle and the other brands their letters on the their arms or shoulders. I can't say if there have ever been any exceptions for not getting it done (medical reasons, just not wanting it ... whatever). I don't know if it is still going on, but I know that it went on every year I was an undergrad. I am also pretty darn sure that this is NOT something that their National organization knows about or condones.

Personally, I didn't even go with my sisters to get my tattoo, in fact most of them didn’t even know I had gotten one for weeks. It was a choice I thought about for two years and when I felt sure of my decision, that’s when I got it.

Tattoos are permanent and I think it is horrible that anyone should be forced into the decision of getting one, if it is not what they really want.

I know you're speaking of an "informal requirement," so I would answer YES, but NO.

*I'm not an expert on other orgs., but I do know that*

Within the organization that is most known for branding, there remain members who do not have brands. Since being branded holds great significance to those within that organization, NOT being branded is usually a very deliberate and personal thing. In other words, members tend to have very explicit and "valid" reasons for NOT doing so.

So, the weight that the "informal requirement" holds would more depend on the chapter than on the norms of the organization, as a whole.

At IU, the Phi Beta Sigma guys got branded. they had large Sigmas branded onto their forearms. I'm not sure if this was required or if it was optional...I never asked any of them.

I dont care how proud I thought of my organzation I would never tattoo anythig having to do with them on my body forever. If im ever feeling in the "greek mood" i'll throw on some letters not reveal some tacky ass tatoo. I think it is a stupid idea. :confused:

Often times most or all of a membership class will get branded at the same time, usually because a prophyte hosts a branding party after a new member line's initiation. Folks are feeling great right after they are initiated, so it's more likely that most or all of the group will get branded, as well as some prophytes that didn't get branded before. It is certainly not mandatory though, and there are usually one or two folks who won't do it.

I do not have a brand, but do have a tattoo in a rarely seen location (no greek letters or Shield).

I have 3 tattoos...one of which is my organizations flower. To most people who see it, it's just a flower. Unless they know I am a Pi Phi or they ask if it means something, they have no idea. Nor do people see it very often.

33girl-
I don't have my ears pierced either, and neither does my best friend- we are the only two in our house that don't! Everyone thinks it's sooo weird! It's kinda cool to hear that someone else out there that's our age doesn't either! :D
-thetagrrl

I have alot of friends of mine that have something representing their GLO tattooed on them. For most its not the letters or the crest but something else that nobody would know about like some of my KD friends have like a ladybug or something and alot of ZTA's that I know have a crown and some XO's have an owl or something. I think that it is a perfectly fine way to show your love and respect to your GLO. but maybe thats just my own opinion.


Nichole

A guy in Phi Psi has a tattoo of phi psi on his arm!

It's not super uncommon, actually. I know more than a few Sorors who have a brand with a tiny "Z".

I don't really see anything wrong with it.. if they really want to, more power to them I guess!

I am personally very scared of pointy and super hot objects, so when I get a sudden 'I-LOVE-ADPI' rush, I am more likely to buy more lettered shirts or sweatshirts than to get a tatoo :)

I'm scared of tattoos.

I think if I did get a tattoo for Pi Phi, it would be an arrow rather than letters.