What is Diversity?
 

In my chapter its not exactly diversity as far as race ect.. but there are alot of different types of guys in it. For instance, I used to only hang out with my ROTC buddies, but now I have a bunch of freinds that are totaly different, that I would have otherwise never known.

I'd say diversity goes for a variety of things. Race is sometimes thought of us as one of them, but it's not really the big one that everyone thinks about when you say it.

When someone says that they think my sorority is diverse, I think it's because of how different all of girls are. Many of us have differing majors, and different activities we're involved in on campus. Yet we just click so well because it's not about being the same that keeps you together, it's about the bond we form as sisters.

This brings up an interesting point. I know people say that their greek is "diverse" but they mean the OVERALL all chapters, if you look at their greek or even in their composite pics or bid day pics I gurantee you its 99 percent caucasion. I believe if you are going to use the word "diversity" it should be close to half of your chapter not one or 50 members of the WHOLE ABC 200 chapters. This irks me!
I can say that mine is diverse due to diff religions, culture, deaf/hearing, and ethnicity.

Traditionally, diversity just means race. In America, we seem to be obsessed with race.

Dictionary.com refers to diversity as "The fact or quality of being diverse; difference."

What it is and what we often think it is are apparently two different things.

CASIGKAP brings up an excellent point as to why the word itself is deadly for any org., not just Greek, since no one knows what it means! When my chapter refers to our diversity, we are usually indicating the various personality types that co-exist, we have laid-back girls, high-strung girls, overachievers, artists, athletes - all trying to get along. It's wonderful though, because we bring all kinds of experiences to the table. I just wish that we could find a different word to express it!

We've got quite a few different personalities along with different ethnicities. We have the really enthusiastic types, the leaders, the overachievers, the cheerleaders, the groovy-low key ones, quiet girls, shy ones, etc etc etc. There's gotta be a match for everyone in the sorority, personality wise. Ethnicity wise: Caucasions, African Americans, Indian, Latinas, Asians... and lots of mixes.

The women from my particular chapter come from a wide variety of backgrounds, but I think more importantly, we have a wide variety of interests. Some women in my chapter are Caucasian, Indian, South American, etc. But they're also athletes, intellectuals, poor, rich, political activists, cheerleaders, artists... you name it.

I think the most important thing my sorority has given me is the ability to interact with people (not just women) of different backgrounds.

See, I don't really consider that as diversity. Technically it is, however that type of "diversity" is very common. I've never heard of a GLO or any other social organization that had all or mostly math majors, party guys/girls, etc. In every group and organzation there will be a variety of personalities and interests. There will always be "the quiet girl/guy", "the leader", "the peacemaker" and the like. But how often do you see buddhists, muslims, Christians, and the Jewish in the same group? Or, Nigerians, the Irish, and Guatamalans in the same group?

If you read my first post, I did mention that there are ladies of different ethnicities. Caucasion, African-American, Indian, Latina (this includes Mexican, Puerto Rican, Columbian, Brazilian, and Peruvian). We also have Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians (Baptists, Methodists, Lutherans, Anglicans, and Pentecostals). Diversity is not solely related to race or religion. Someone earlier posted a definition where diversity is classified as whatever it is that makes you different.

I did read your first post, and according to what you posted about your chapter, it is EXTREMELY diverse. I was just saying that I don't really consider an organization with a variety of personalities as diverse. Of course, that was just my opinion. Sorry if I didn't explain that correctly.

i disagree, i find that a lot of campuses have orgs that are known as the 'party house' or the 'study house' and stuff...but do you want to distinguish between personal membership opinions or stereotypes? because i think a lot of us can come up with a 'label' for our org, even if it didn't apply to every single member.

and you have interest fraternities/sororities, like business, government, music, service, so on some level, they all have to share SOMETHING, otherwise what would distinguise Alpha Chi from Sigma Kappa or Gamma Phi, etc. :)

Yeah, but those are reputations. There's a sorority on my campus known as "the party girls", I've seen several of these girls in class and at parties. There may be more party girls in that sorority compared to ABC and XYZ, but I wouldn't classify them as a party sorority. They don't classify themselves as that. Same thing with "pretty boy" house, lol.