Sorority/Fraternity confusion
 

This may seem like a completely stupid question. But I thought Fraternities were for guys. I don't see a big deal in getting to specifics here, because I'm not bad mouthing anyone, I'm just confused. USA has a Phi Mu FRATERNITY...but its a bunch of girls. I guess I was wrong? :(

Some women's organizations took on the term "women's fraternity" prior to the term "sorority" being coined. I believe over 1/2 the NPC women's organizations are referred to as "women's fraternities"

Hope that helps.

Yup but on campus they're still going to be referred to colloquially as "sororities." "Fraternity" is just their official title.

Alpha Gam is one of those who's official title is "fraternity", but we're grouped in with the other sororities on campus. Make sense?

Check out this thread:

The word FRATERNITY

Just want to say that many "women's fraternities" were founded after "sorority" was coined for Gamma Phi Beta in 1874. Fraternity vs. Sorority is not really related to founding date.

HmMmMm
 

Well that does clear it up. Thanks for the quick answers. Though I wonder why after the name sorority was ''established" or what not, some would still be founded as fraternitys....

I'm thinking it would be a matter of our Founders' preference.

For example, AGD was established at Syracuse University (just like Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta) in 1904. Even though Gamma Phi Beta refers to themselves as "sorority", AGD is still a women's fraternity.

Gotcha, I was looking through the links on the college I'd like to attend (hell its already written in a nother post, might as well put it here) USA, and some of the links for the sororities were "fraternities" but all women. It just confused me some. But this clears it up.

I know I'm jumping in here, and that it's already been cleared up, but I can answer directly for Phi Mu. We were founded in 1852, before the word "sorority" was coined. We were founded as a society originally, but then took on the Greek name of "Phi Mu Fraternity." When the word sorority came about, we were already established and known as "Phi Mu Fraternity" and chose to remain as such. I know there are a few others that chose to remain known as "fraternity" as well. The choice to be called sorority or fraternity is at the national discretion of that particular organization. And yes, on most campuses, these organizations are referred to as sororities.

For Kappa, our founders were determined to have the same thing as the men and that is one reason why we are called a Fraternity and were named with greek letters and were not founded as a society. Our founders wanted equality and so became a Ladies Fraternity. I think they were some of the original women's libbers!