organization stereotypes
 

Okay, yes, I'm an addict of this stupid forum. Haha...I'm on winter break. Give me a break! ;)

Before I became a Phi Sig, I really didn't know much about sororities and their reputations in general. Sure, I knew the whole "Oh, sorority girls are sooo stuck up!", but i didn't know much about particular stereotypes about sororities.

Personally I think the stereotypes are crap. The absolute most popular sorority on my campus, is the dorkiest sorority at my friend's school. The glamorous "rich girls" on my campus were the "ugly girls" at my old school.

What do you guys think of stereotypes of your house? Whether they be national or local?

The stereotype of my sorority on campus is that we are the "good girls." For the most part, people really seem to have a lot of respect for our chapter. Our girls have always been involved on campus and are well known both inside and outside of the Greek community. I've heard people say that we are "stuck-up," but a lot of those people that say that are basing their opinions off of one or two girls that may give off that vibe since they are just really quiet. As far as other stereotypes on our campus we have the traditional "rich and stuck-up girls," "party girls," and so on. Stereotypes are everywhere and really the only way to "break" them is to actually get to know the group and form your own opinion! :) For example, when I first came to college there was a fraternity that I hated because I thought they were are jerks and really bad guys. Then once I got to know them (after my roommate pulled me out of her car one night and forced me to go inside :D ) I realized that they were all really great guys that I had missed opportunities to hang out with before then because I had a horrible preconceived stereotype of them! Now they are my favorite fraternity on campus! Funny how things work out.....

There have numerous threads on this subject, and actually, most of us prefer that this not be discussed at all. Someone's feelings always end up getting hurt. There's no reason to go around listing false stereotypes. It may not bother you, but it does bother a lot of people, including some of your own sisters.

These threads always end up getting out of control

Re: organization stereotypes
 

Why ask the question and perpetuated it by creating your own stereotype?

hey, i'm not asking anyone to name their orgs. or name the organizations of others they have heard stereotyped positive OR negatively.

I just find it a very interesting phenomenon that sororities are totally grouped together as if we're all one entity when everyone is so different on every campus.

Just humor us and do a search, you will see that this topic has come up 100s of times.

Then what are you asking? :confused:

okay, i should have done a search. i'm over it. i profusely apologize. i know at other boards people get irritated when people bring up posts from the dead. I guess not here.

I wouldn't be too upset about this. I doubt the vast majority of GCers are really concerned that you didn't do a search or posted about this topic.

So be of good cheer.

That being said: I am still waiting for someone to come on and say " Everyone thinks we are the skanky sorority." Or the low tier group. Or something.

Seriously, everyone says that one chapter or another is like that on their campus . . its just never their chapter .

Edited to remove numerous profanities, vulgarities and scathing observations.

things change so fast
 

You know when I was in school (5 sororities, 7 fraternities) We, (greeks) all had informed ideas of what type of person would fit into what glo.

That was 10 years ago and when I talk to the girls in my sorority now they tell me how much everything has changed.

I have heard that a fraternity that was in trouble for drugs when I was in school is now up there with the best fraternity on campus.

And another fraternity with a strong national organization was weak on our campus 10 years ago now has a strong recruitment every year for the past few years.

And a sorority who always had chapter total when I was in school didnt make quota this year but I am sure that things will change again in another 5 years.


My brother told me once before I went through rush that it doesnt matter if you get into the "best" sorority as long as you graduate from the best. Of course I did graduate from the best sorority. (but, assume that everyone believes they graduated from the best of whatever sorority they got into)

let's see...

- that we are pretty much an all-white fraternity (that's no longer even accurate and we're probably the most diverse personality-wise, but somehow we ended up pretty homogenous culturally at the most diverse university in the country)

- that we give out lots of bids and then drop most of them (also inaccurate--most drop themselves within the first week because they can't find $50 to pay for a pledge book)

that's...that's about it

i go to a private college, so our sororities and fraternities are also private...so the nice thing is, we aren't stereotyped like national ones are. However, there are stereotypes over the years. My guy friend's parents used to go here 20 or so years ago, and she said that the sorority I am in now used to be the "smart ones", and the one she wanted to get in was the "popular, hot one". Now, there is a rivalry between our 2 sororities b/c we're both equally smart and popular, and other issues I won't get into.

People on our campus think we're the band geeks.

And well... they're right. :D

IrishSpring,

to be truthful, you keep posting the same thing and asking the same questions on many threads!

There in lies the problem.

While you may be a newbie and full of Greekness, use your talent a little wiser.

There arte some who get upset, what I get upset about is when I PMed you and got no response. Maybe that will answer some questions for you.:(




"megleigh", how does this not sterotype you as a Local?

There are No Sterotypes for Internationals or Nationals. These are only done by a Campus as Groups or Chapters.


Corsulian, Started out good, but faded in the stretch for a Post about your so called Organization?!

Love Dharma, has great artistic Fingures and Pretty Feet!

Her idea of having sex is having it in the rain and if lightenting strikes, the Guy is on the Top!
:(

ummm....i don't feel like i asked the same thing on many threads.

Exactly how are national GLOs stereotyped?

it was just said earlier that nationals are stereotyped b/c if they are the nerdy ones at one school, they are considered the nerdy ones at another school..

Actually, the opposite has been said many times on GC. The XYZs on one campus may be one way, but they may be another way at a different schools.

maybe i should've used different words. i meant thought to be instead of considered, which is a stereotype... thinking just b/c one chapter is a certain way at one school, they are most likely that way at another.

I see. I would consider that to be an individual's personal prejudice rather than a stereotype.

I'm not sure about NIC and NPC group stereotypes (or the lack thereof),but among NPHC groups there are definitely national stereotypes. Even though all members don't confirm to these stereotypes,to a large extent there is more than a grain of truth to them. It's somewhat like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

The origins of this is grounded in history though, having to do with social class differences and other factors that differentiated various groups.

Fraternities:
A Phi A--gentlemen scholars,snobs,nerds,etc.
Kappa Alpha Psi--,pretty boy,playboy fraternity(a more recent stereotype--earlier more athletes and heavy drinkers)
Omega Psi Phi--the infamous "Que Dogs," the gregarious, macho party frat
Phi Beta Sigma--so-called "skaters," largely from more "declasse" backgrounds
Iota Phi Theta--black radicals,somewhat off the radar socially speaking,new kids on the block

Sororities:
Alpha Kappa Alpha--prim ,beauty queen,socialite types
Delta Sigma Theta--more open, outgoing, civic-minded,and gregarious
Zeta Phi Beta and Sigma Gamma Rho in black society circles traditionally considered the sororities for black women from lower class girls.

Even though these stereotypes are often downplayed now, they tend to reflect issues that go back to the founding days of many of these organizations. One of the founders of my Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi, said that the other group in existence at the time on Howard Univ.'s campus appraoched him and another founder. He said they "turned them down flat," and it was composed of "bigots" who had money and esteemed family names. It was a "social club not a fraternity." (This is not meant to be polemical but to give insight into how these stereotypes,in terms of NPHC groups, developed.)

Wow, Wolfman, Is this YOUR OPINION or is this an American Wide knowledge and stereotype of each one of those organizations that you mentioned. I mean, don't NPHC groups vary a little bit from chapter to chapter?

Those are strong "stereotypes" about every organization that you mentioned. Hard to live up to for the "good ones" and hard to "live down" for the "newer ones".

did this really need to be bumped? i think most of us were happy that it had drifted down the page...

Why not?

Question has been asked and others want to leave an opinion.

Are there difference between Male and Female Organizations, Da, Hell, Yes.

Are There differences between and among Male Groups and Female Groups, well do I need to go any further!!! ?

But, What is the Real Difference when it comes to Non Greeks Degrading Us as Greeks.

What is the color Barrier? I dont know, I have Brothers from different Relegions and Colors! So Who In The F*ck Cares but Others who dont know them!

We say that, but what about the average non-Greek? In my experience, you tend to get painted with the same brush as far as stereotypes based on peoples' perception of your group at their school...there have been so many times I've heared, "Wow...you're a _fill in the blank_?? I don't believe it--you're totally different!"

it does vary chapter to chapter, but those are national stereotypes. and wolfman was quite tact with his list, lol.

Yeah, you're right. I guess I was holding the poster to a higher standard, since she's a Greek.

AD Pi Conniebama-

As I stated in my post, these national stereotypes of NPHC organization are real and somewhat ubiquitous for those familiar with our organizations. And, as I stated, every member of these groups don't conform to these stereotypes but they are powerful labels which delimit how many outsiders identify members of these groups. It's really a double-edged sword. You have to take the positive aspects of the stereotypes with the bad ones too. I've talked with young men desiring membership within my Fraternity and those who aren't legacies or aren't familiar with Omega, tend to identify more with aspects of the "Omega mystique." But the most important thing I wanted to get across is that, to a certain extent, even though those who perpetuate these stereotypes don't have much of a historical reference point, in a germinal sense they are rooted in history, as I stated in my post. And these ideological differences (in the midst of the overwhelming similarities!) really get to the core of the visions of the founders of these organizations. In this sense, there is a serious and important side to these superficial,juvenile stereotypes, and it shows that diversity is important and inevitable. FYI: I don't fit the stereotype of my Fraternity,but as I learned about the history and principles embodied in our Ritual I found that those are the things I really do believe in and seek to live by.

(I once had a Korean husband and wife in my NT Greek class( I used to teach it in seminary). When the wife found out I was an Omega (a "bulldog" as she referred to Omegas) she was very surprised. Later her husband jokingly told me that she said to him that I acted like an "Alpha." I thought this was funny but what she expressed was what a lot of people think, even though it may sound trite and silly.)

I've surfed the web and viewed the websites of various NIC and NPC groups. The content and rhetoric contained therein seems to "flat" and very similar. Maybe my opinion is just one from an outsider. A somewhat positive note to all this is that there is a friendly rivalry which is generated by these stereotypes and it adds to the sense of interest,fun and belonging in the NPHC groups, I think. This is just one person's opinion.

-Wolfman