R.E.S.P.E.C.T. find out what it means to me...
 

Here's to Alpha Phi Omega, Loyal BROTHERS we...MEN of Alpha Phi Omega...
BROTHERS clasp the hands of BROTHERS

Now we all know that our beloved toast song refers to us all us brothers and men. We also know that our membership cards *those of us who have them* refer to us as Brother ___________, so my question is why do some Men try to call us (females) sister. This is a very touchy subject for me because I go through this a lot. I am a Brother of the fraternity, not a sister. If I wanted to be a sister, I would have joined a sorority. It's a difference...sorority = sisterhood, fraternity = brotherhood. I knew what I was joining a fraternity, not a sorority, but yet in still, people have tried to call me sister, which I do not stand for. People have asked me am I a soror or a bruhror *a brother that's a soror* and I reply that I am none of these. I even had a friend who told me that she told one of her soror's *she's in a sorority* that i was in Alpha Phi Omega and she said that wasn't possible and that I must be a Jewel. When the toast song refers to us as men, I look at it the same way as the constitution refers to all men being created equal...men in the since of mankind, not in the since of just being a man. So how do you feel about it?

Many times when I am wearing letters while out and about, I have people ask me about "my sorority." A lot of people don't know what APO is and I have to explain to them that APO is a fraternity. This is usually followed by "But you're a girl!" The concept of a coed fraternity is hard for some people to grasp. :D

Well, there you have it, Ladies and Gentlemen. Attractive breaks it down so far that it can never be raised up again, lol.

I'm pretty much in total agreement. If someone can't accept a woman as their BROTHER, then they pledged the wrong organization.

I mean within the fraternity. I can understand outsiders who do not know, I mean brothers who have been initiated into our fraternity.

I totally agree with you. There are plenty all male orgs you could have joined. You knew what you were getting into. Don't disrespect me by calling me what you think I deserve to be called. Especially when I know that I have been breaking my back for APO since I joined.

And the funny thing is I got a few texts and had a conversation about this same thing the night I posted this.

I never had this problem within my chapter. Of course, that might have something to do with the fact that (at least back when I was an active) the majority of brothers in my chapter were female. :) It was just people not in the chapter that couldn't accept that a female could be a brother.

hmmph!
 

You already know how I feel about this subject.

Strawter

i know it all too well

lol. But you know I love you though. I'm intrigued by women who stands up for themselves. If conversations like the one we had tonight were more common amongst other fraternity members, alot of misconceptions can be cleared up. Through it all, you have my respect Brother Porterfield.:). Seriously.

thank you...i like how you slipped sister ingram in on that other post *lol* but forreal i appreciate the respect

Sisters
 

Couple of comments here...

First, we have brothers and sisters in the Phillipines. The men there belong to fraternity chapters and the women to sorority chapters, both of which exist on the same campus. All women in APO-Phil are sisters.

Secondly, I have run into women in the fraternity who want to be called sisters. As Rashid can verify, *some* of the women in Mu Alpha chapter want to be called sister. The funny thing to me is that Mu Alpha at Georgetown U. in some ways is the most like a chapter at an HBCU as any that is majority white (brothers are expected to know the lines of all active brothers, order matters in a pledge line, etc)

Having said that, my wife is my brother, my sister is my brother and my sister-in-law is my brother...

Randy

Re: Sisters
 

Very true on all counts, Randy.

Re: Sisters
 

Why did they do it seperately?

Re: Re: Sisters
 

This might not answer "why" but it definitely tells "how":

http://www.apo.org.ph/?page=articles...a9f69b22496cbc

I'm a BROTHER
 

Attractive #7

I agree with you 125%..... it really gets under my skin when I'm refered to as a sister.....it has only happen once (from a vistor of another chapter) but from the expression on our faces he cleaned up the statement pretty quick......Point blank females and males are BROTHERS of Alpha Phi Omega

It shouldn't get under your skin unless you know that the other brother knows better. If you are talking to a philippine brother and that's what he normally calls a brother, just try to educate him. Don't just blow-up at him. Now if a brother in the on your same campus nuts-up and calls you a sister, educate him. Again, don't blow up, but don't be quiet either. The less that is said the more misuderstandings takes place.

I know I personally am referring to people who know better.

Most of the APO-Phil brothers I've talked to know a lot more about APO-USA than we do about APO-Phil. But that aside, the statement that "All initiated members of Alpha Phi Omega are brothers" is sort and sweet and most appropriate on campus. (If you find you've just made that statement to a Filipino, apologize and have fun discussing APO-Phil. :)

Attactive: Is there anything that would things easier to deal with for those who should know better? I don't remember the exact phrasing of the brotherhood card, would having the phrasing there changed help?


YiLFS
Randy

I know my membership card says Brother ____________ A lot of guys know this, they are just being stubborn. They feel as though it's a fraternity...all male...woo woo woo. Women don't deserve to be brothers, although a lot of them would deny feeling like this...i feel a lot of them do.

I'm sure they are not saying women don't deserve to be brothers. I think with them it's not an issue of whether you can call yourself a brother. I think to them it's more of rather or not you should. Most women in this fraternity prefer "brother" over "frat". They look at the term "frat" as a slang for male member. The way all members in Alpha Phi Omega, should be looked at the same. You see, some of the male brothers can not see themselves dating a brother. So they rather not see you as one. Other don't care either way. I believe their are no reasons not to call you my frat, my brother, or my favorite FemaleAPO. There is no such thing as a bruhror, fratsister, or an APOsister(unless you became a member in the philippines). And most of the male members on black campuses and some on other campuses already refer to Gamma Sigma Sigma as sisters (although they're unofficially recognized).

It's funny you say all of this. I am a brother. I am called brother or frat all the time. I don't have a problem with this. I will call one of my female apo brothers frat in a minute, and don't think much of it. I detest someone attempting to call me a sister. Someone even asked if I was a bruhor once...I was like hhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeccccccccccck naw. I know a lot of the guys who have a problem with calling me brother are not b/c they want to date me *even though I am Attractive;) * it goes back to the all male thing. You might not feel this way, and that's cool. I have never had a personal conversation with you, so I can not say how you feel; but I can say from personal conversations with other brothers that's the idea I get from a lot of them. About the GSS thing, I hear that they are their soror's not their sisters.

The Dictionary defined Fraternity as:
\Fra*ter"ni*ty\, n.; pl. Fraternities. [F. fraternit['e], L. fraternitas.] 1. The state or quality of being fraternal or brotherly; brotherhood.

2. A body of men associated for their common interest, business, or pleasure; a company; a brotherhood; a society; in the Roman Catholic Chucrch, an association for special religious purposes, for relieving the sick and destitute, etc.

3. Men of the same class, profession, occupation, character, or tastes.

The Dictionary also defined Brother as:

1. A male having the same parents as another or one parent in common with another.

2. pl. often breth·ren (brthrn) One who shares a common ancestry, allegiance, character, or purpose with another or others, especially:
A kinsman.
A fellow man.
A fellow member, as of a fraternity, trade union, or panel of judges on a court.
A close male friend; a comrade.
A fellow African-American man or boy.

3. pl. often brethren Something, such as a corporation or institution, that is regarded as a member of a class: “A station that... relies on corporate contributions or advertising to survive runs the risk of becoming virtually indistinguishable from its commercial brethren” (W. John Moore).

If you scroll down that page some more http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=brother you will also see

1. A male person who has the same father and mother with another person, or who has one of them only. In the latter case he is more definitely called a half brother, or brother of the half blood.

Two of us in the churchyard lie, My sister and my brother. --Wordsworth.

2. One related or closely united to another by some common tie or interest, as of rank, profession, membership in a society, toil, suffering, etc.; -- used among judges, clergymen, monks, physicians, lawyers, professors of religion, etc. ``A brother of your order.'' --Shak.

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers, For he to-day that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother. --Shak.

3. One who, or that which, resembles another in distinctive qualities or traits of character.***

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. --Prov. xviii. 9.

That April morn Of this the very brother. --Wordsworth.

Note: In Scripture, the term brother is applied to a kinsman by blood more remote than a son of the same parents, as in the case of Abraham and Lot, Jacob and Laban. In a more general sense, brother or brethren is used for fellow-man or fellow-men.

For of whom such massacre Make they but of their brethren, men of men? --Milton.


***Do we not share the same qualities and traits of character???
A Scout is Trustworthy.
A Scout tells the truth. He is honest, and he keeps his promises. People can depend on him.

A Scout is Loyal.
A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and nation.

A Scout is Helpful.
A Scout cares about other people. He willingly volunteers to help others without expecting payment or reward.

A Scout is Friendly.
A Scout is a friend to all. He is a brother to other Scouts. He offers his friendship to people of all races and nations, and respects them even if their beliefs and customs are different from his own.

A Scout is Courteous.
A Scout is polite to everyone regardless of age or position. He knows that using good manners makes it easier for people to get along.

A Scout is Kind.
A Scout knows there is strength in being gentle. He treats others as he wants to be treated. Without good reason, he does not harm or kill any living thing.

A Scout is Obedient.
A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and troop. He obeys the laws of his community and country. If he thinks these rules and laws are unfair, he tries to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobeying them.

A Scout is Cheerful.
A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy.

A Scout is Thrifty.
A Scout works to pay his own way and to help others. He saves for the future. He protects and conserves natural resources. He carefully uses time and property.

A Scout is Brave.
A Scout can face danger although he is afraid. He has the courage to stand for what he thinks is right even if others laugh at him or threaten him.

A Scout is Clean.
A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean. He chooses the company of those who live by high standards. He helps keep his home and community clean.

A Scout is Reverent.
A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

I could go on and on about the other definitions of brother on that page, but I will end with this one that I particulary liked (8.) One beloved or closely united with another in affection

According to dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=fraternity A fraternity is
1. A body of people associated for a common purpose or interest, such as a guild.
2. A group of people joined by similar backgrounds, occupations, interests, or tastes: the fraternity of bird watchers.
3. A chiefly social organization of men students at a college or university, usually designated by Greek letters.
4. Roman Catholic Church. A sodality.
5. The quality or condition of being brothers; brotherliness.

Only one of those definitions referred to men...and that was the third one.

Psi Phi... Gotta love em...

:cool:

Ladies and Gentlemen......the doors of the church are open.

GSS thing, I hear that they are their soror's not their sisters


same difference.

Okay I'm leaving. Just had to drop that one line.

wee-skeet
25/52

Okay soror...Gamma Sigs ain't EVEN gettin in this one.

I hear ya netta.

GSS is referred to as our sisters and our sorors. We are that tight.

But let me go back to the brother issue. Whenever, a brother calls you a bruhror, they already know what you suppose to be called. They are just messing with you. If it is a none-member they are not use to the idea. If it is a brother, he can't tell you what he really wants to say, and the only thing that comes out is a name. I know because I called a male sister something one time. I will not repeat it, but it was because I didn't want to call him my soror or sister. It just didn't feel right. Have I converted? No. It will never feel right. But I've learn to deal with it better. I just don't label them at all, and call them by their name.

When you joined Alpha Phi Omega, you became not a brother. You are not a brother you are an Alpha Phi Omega brother. And that allows you to be called brother within this organization. Every female member should be considered a brother, only because Alpha Phi Omega defines their memberhip that way. It doesn't matter if its right or wrong, or even just feels wrong.

There is a national effort to place people in check, who expresses their disbeliefs on the female membership harshly. So if you will probably less able to tell how male members really feel, because their membership may even be threatend.

A brother in the frat said and I quote..."Women in Alpha Phi Omega are my sisters. Gamma Sigs are my sorors." That was directly from a "Vike" His reasons for saying that...you can take it up him. I don't care what anyone else is called personally. Some females want to be called sisters...that's fine. I am and will be a BROTHER.

@ Attractive,

You know I think that BEST sums it up right there.

Keep doing your thing. You're happy where you are, I can respect that.

You have to realize that if you wanted to be called a sister then there are some that would be trying to call you something else. In this fraternity, people have different views. The same is within the ranks of Vikings. Sometimes (not all of the time ) the ones that want to call you sister, is the same ones that wouldn't mind dating a member. But I digress. But what you are is nothing to get bent out of shape about. You are a brother. No matter how funny it seems, you are a brother by the definition of the National Office. All else doesn't matter

@ Ranita

My thoughts exactly. Do you honey!

I just wanted to interject...

Fraternity isn't just for all male, or formerly all male groups...

there are several "fraternities for women" that were founded before the word sorority was used...case in point, Sigma Alpha Iota.

just a lil fyi

And this includes NPC sororites as well such as Phi Mu and Kappa Alpha Theta. (Not saying that SAI isn't a good example, but I wanted to make clear that this included housed social sororities.)

Randy

Thanks 7!!!:D Hey our Gamma Sigs are having Dinner with the Sigs Thursday. I don't know how close you are to Nashville, LOL, but it would be great to see you there!

We have SAI here too!!!

That is correct, and I don't know of any fraternities of women calling themselves brothers. However, it wouldn't matter anyway what another organization chooses to call it's members. Alpha Phi Omega (USA) chooses to call it's members brothers. On your point about the word "Fraternity" isn't just for all male entities, I would agree with you. In this case, the word "Fraternity" in this Fraternity had the meaning "for males", and that is were brothers hold onto the aspect of the word Fraternity in it's traditional sense. Not the variables outside this Fraternity. You might even see a protest of girls, within a fraternity of women, who had always called their members sisters and then a guy joins and but he wants to be called sister, and some females want to call him brother, because they can see themselves calling him a sister. But the same thing would apply here. What does the organization defines it's members.