Cosmopolitan magazine hazing question
 

I just found this on Cosmo's site.... :(

http://magazines.ivillage.com/cosmop...631437,00.html


"Chances are you know a guy with a horror story about pledging his college fraternity. But the truth is that many sororities have their own little rituals and tests for new recruits. Did you survive your sorority sisters' humiliating demands? We want the details. Tell us about it -- we promise to keep your name (and those of your tormentors) a secret."

Two words: oy vey.

While Cosmo has no credibility whatsoever among intelligent people, it does have a large readership. You can bet they don't want to hear about a new member coming back to her dorm and finding her bed completely covered with stuffed turtles / dolphins / pandas / lions / poodles / whatever. Just one more set of stories to deal with, if an article ever gets published.

Why not write in overwhelming hordes and tell them how you were NOT hazed?

That's what I was going to say.

I already wrote about how my experience was amazing & that hazing was not an issue.

Great idea.:cool:

I wanted to do that too. Not identify my org but say that I had a wonderful time, and eventually my sisters helped me to land a job.

Ok, I know stuf is supposed to go through HQ or at least someone with the authority to speak for my org. But I sent them a positive story saying how I loved my membership. I think I'm ok because I didn't ID Chi O.

nevermind

Well I told them how wonderful my experience was and didn't name ZTA. I also bit their head off about the topic. :D

Wonder if they would print a Male point of view?:rolleyes: :p

That's what I'm going to do. My roommate and I always read Cosmo, but I am appauled at their request for hazing stories. I hope everyone will write in, males too (Tom), to tell them what a great experience you had or a girl you know had.

I shared my wonderful experience with them, and chided them for perpetuating the myth that hazing is unique to GLO's. I also told them, if they wanted to hear my stories of being hazed in high school by the senior members of the Thespian Society, marching band and choir, I could tell them stories that would make their hair curl.

Yea!!! Go us! Hey, remember not to identify your org! We don't want to give them anything they can use against us.

I told them about all the money we raise and the community service we do. I also told them about most national sororities strong anti-hazing laws and that it is not cool to pass these isolated events off as normal sororities life.

I also posted a note about how amazing and non-hazing my sorority experience was (and still is!). I made no reference to my org. in any way - which I think it important. I'm sure they'll print the article just in time for fall recruitment! :rolleyes:

I now too have sent in a response saying how my sisters would never be the ones to hurt/humiliate me... It really does get to me that they want an article like that...

I didn't answer their question :D. I actually sent something saying that I thought it was unfair that the media like to portray sororities so negatively and that it was really unfair that they're only writing from one point of view.

Thanks for the ++++ up vote! I did post to that ragazine posting my dismay and who I never new any Soroitys who I knew ever had any hazing attributed to them.

I very nicely said what they were asking was crap/Nice way of saying S**T!:mad:

Only way to hurt them is to stop sales!:)

Dont know, but how many Womens Soroitys and Members are there?????;)

As a Kappa Kappa Gamma, our chapter didn't do anything to haze. On the contrary, there were many examples of kindness, generosity, and encouragement. I responded to the Cosmo question with a few of those examples instead and a request that if they write an article, they show both sides of the story. I would hate for someone to miss out on an amazing experience just because an article or book made them fearful the few bad apples out there.

I will say that chapters on our campus do NOT at all haze, we bend over backwards to treat them like princesses, we take their plates from them, clean up after them, we spoil them rotten. We do not let them do anything that could even possibly consider hazing. We have a maid to clean the house so we do not make them clean. I mean if we have a chapter clean, we dont even make the new girls help. We do this all while they are new because we do not want them feeling like we are making them do ANYTHING they do not want to do.

I have so many positive experiences from ADPi and Greek Life in general. I even had an ADPi and an AGD in my wedding as well as two TKE's.

I filled out their little thing with such positive things. I honestly will say Id think anyone who would post on it even if they arent greek and say something terrible, Id see them publishing it over anything good. Well see though, maybe they will post positive things. Doesnt seem like anyone does anymore, but lets hope for the best.

I let Cosmo know about all the presents I received while a new member, the wonderful things the sisters did for us to make us feel comfortable during our pledging process, and how my big sister was always by my side if I had any doubts. I hope that Cosmo does a story on the benefits of a sorority; with books like "Pledged" and "Sorority Life", the media would rather focus on few (rare) negative experienes some greek members have had. I think the majority of greek members had a positive experience with their organization.
I'm surprised because I would imagine that many of Cosmo's staff members were once a sorority member. Why aren't they talking about the positives of their greek experience? I'm sure they didn't all have a horrible greek experience.

But in the liberal media, it's not "cool" to be pro-Greek. I would bet that some of those gals were the biggest letter-wearin', Vera-Bradley-totin', fraternity-party-goin' ladies out there. They just don't want to admit it because the prevalent media bent nowadays is to make fun of Greek life and trash anything positive about it.

Exactly. The "liberal media" as you call them, also don't like anything that has the reputation of being "selective". A few years ago, The Toronto Star ran an article on my high school and portrayed the girls as stereotypical private school snobs (you know, girls who wear named brands who are spoiled rotten by their parents and only date private school boys). The woman who wrote, like Alexandra Robbins, didn't say much about the community service work or nor did she say anything about girls who are on bursaries and have parents who have to scrimp and pinch their savings to send them there.

I can't believe you just called Cosmo "liberal media".

Let's face it: the truth about GLOs is never going to be a hit in the media because it won't sell. Nobody is going to buy a magazine with a cover story called "My Sisters Treated Me So Well, I Want My Daughter To Be One", so no consumer-driven magazine (as Cosmo clearly is) is going to publish it. People want to read about naked slumber parties, circle the fat, initiation rituals involving dead pelicans -- in short, total crap. In fact, all of these things are mere rumors that we've all heard one time or another (well, maybe not the dead pelican thing.) But there's a reason why rumors travel so quickly. People don't want to hear squeaky-clean stories about sorority girls raising money for breast cancer research. They want dirt.

I'm just sayin'.

I didn't mean Cosmo in particular, I meant the media in general.

'
Okay. :) Well, point taken, anyway, but I still don't think there is any media that portrays greek life in a particularly good light (with the exception of our own publications).

Haha! I love that quote, 33girl! That is greek life at my school (Furman in Greenville, SC) in a nutshell! As for my opinion on the Cosmo issue, it's only to get people to buy their magazine, but I hope that no one participates... I know that I will not be (because I have never been hazed, nor do I know anyone who has been!)...

This is so sad. I must admit that the only time I was ever interested in Cosmo was when I was a senior in high school / very early college...in other words - "Pre"Greek and its sad to think that junk like this is what will fill the minds of other "pre"greek ladies out there. I think it is wonderful that everyone has written in with positive stories about sorority life...maybe they will get so bored reading these positive things that they will stop their research:)

Here is what I wrote (yeah, I know it's long):

WhiteDaisy128, that was beautiful!!!!

Whitedaisy, all I can say is WOW! I hope they print this!

WhiteDaisy, that was amazing. If Cosmo doesn't print it -- they're stupid and not worth reading anyway.

It's times like this that I sit back and think about how wonderful it must feel to be a legacy. :)

Great job!

Wow WhiteDaisy, that was awe-inspiring... your story made me cry! I really hope that they use your story...what a true representation of what greek life really is!

My 2 cents
 

I've had quite a bit going on in my life, so I welcomed the opportunity to vent to someone- in this case, the opportunity to bitch out Cosmo. I think I was irritated by this mostly because I've been such a huge fan of the magazine for so long, and this just really makes me feel a bit resentful. So anyway, here's my diatribe to Cosmo, hope y'all enjoy...(it's long, because I am long winded, in case anyone hadn't noticed yet):

As a loyal Cosmopolitan reader for years and years now, I feel compelled to reply. First, let me give you a bit of background. I've been reading your magazine since I was eight years old. I used to swipe my mom's copies and read them on the sly, learning all I could about what it meant to be a woman. Now, thirteen years later, I'm a woman myself. I have read every issue of your magazine in those thirteen years. I understand your vision, your ideals, and what your target demographics are. But the above mentioned topic really upsets me.

First of all, an article such as this is propogating an untrue and unfair stereotype that was generated largely by unreliable, anecdotal, minority viewpoints. The majority of women who participate in sororities have nothing but positive experiences to report. As a matter of fact, I would venture so far as to guess that many of the Cosmo staffers were Greek themselves. And yet still the media wants to sensationalize something that is a legitimately beneficial extracurricular activity for women.

When I was growing up, your magazine represented the joys of being a woman- the sexual prowess a woman could wield, the undying loyalty of friendships between women, and the indominatable spirit that allows ALL kinds of women to succeed in whatever they choose. How, then, does denigrating such a beneficial and educational experience contribute to the furthering of Cosmo women?

I realize that this is about selling magazines. I understand that you need to make money, and this is what sells. My collegiate education has been focused on preparation to join the advertising industry, and I am no stranger to the fact that sex, violence, and shocking stories make money. But I am also the former President and Founder of my sorority. My college years also involved interaction with Greek members on my campus, and around the country. I have come to realize that the negative stereotypes are just that- stereotypes. Yes, some organizations haze. A minority of Greek organizations haze. Athletic clubs, high school organizations, and various extracurriculars also haze. Not all, but a minority.

And, to counter another point- sororities and fraternities do not promote binge drinking, irresponsible sex, or reenforcement of negative gender roles. In general, college age men and woman are experimenting with sex, drugs, drinking, different activities, etc. A Greek organization comprised of such college students will necessary represent some of those people. However, there is also a proliferation of honors students, members involved in extensive community service, and career driven men and women. I won't list all the facts and figures here, but it might behoove Cosmo to investigate how many of our political leaders, media stars, Fortune 500 business owners, etc, all would speak positively about their Greek experience.

In short, an article like this is accomplishing something that I didn't realize Cosmopolitan magazine supported- a specific denigration of a subset of women who deserve the public's respect and support. If you want to do an article on the horrors of hazing, that's fine. But in my opinion (which I feel is quite credible, given the education and organizations that I am representing here, including faithful Cosmo readers), Cosmo has always tried to be ahead of the game. A magazine that prides itself on presenting in your face, empowering, and original information could truly benefit from this age of anti-Greek sentiment. So I would suggest that Cosmo consider the benefits of an article that shows both sides- the dangers of hazing, as infrequent as it is, as well as the accomplishments and honest reflections of sorority women. Otherwise, several of your target demographics are seriously endangered.

Intelligent sorority women across the country and world do not respond well to crass and desperate attempts at shock media. Furthermore, the legions of pre-teen and teenage girls who wish for nothing more than to grow up and be just like Elle Woods (who, for what it's worth, Cosmo has highlighted as an excellent role model for women pursuing their dreams) are going to have to choose between their dreams, and what Cosmo says. No matter what, your magazine is losing readers.

In an environment that is already super saturated with anti-greek propaganda, the average consumer doesn't need to turn to Cosmo for more information on bad sorority experiences. They can turn on MTV or pick up a best selling book for that. So instead of capitolizing on what has already been done, perhaps Cosmo should follow the lead of all the other major women's magazines in publication today. Glamour, Jane, Marie Claire, and Elle have all started to focus more on encouraging a healthy body image, presenting models of all shapes and sizes, and focusing on the inspiring triumphs of women. As we all progress towards a more intelligent and open minded America, it seems only appropriate that the leading magazine among young adult women would lead the way.

wishinhopin -

Good girl.

CJ, you make me so proud to be a Delta Gamma!!

Yay wishinhopin, putting that amazing UC education to work! You did a great job!

wishinhopin,
Awesome girl! I also replied to their little request by telling them about my fantastic experience in greek life and how i would appreciate them presenting both side of the story. They are probably freaking out at the response! Go GC!

CJ, for starters, again I am so sorry about the loss of your mother. I cried as I read your post

Wishinhopin, great letter

This is for both of y'all
We're Not Worthy!

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