Perhaps I've been lucky in that my GLO's chapter has a rich cultural diversity...I'm just a Sister to my Sisters. Perhaps as minorities we (minority Sisters) empathize better with each other. However, I don't think that's the case - even to my "majority" Sisters, I'm a Sister. If anyone brings up heritage or culture, it's because we choose to enrich our knowledge of each other as individuals, therefore grow as Sisters. (This sounds incredibly idealistic, certainly, however this is definitely one of the best advantages of being in a small, close-knit Chapter.
)
Ethnicity/culture isn't an issue in identifying me as a Sister, whereas my role within the the Sisterhood and Chapter
definitely is. As far as outside my GLO...well, I don't really care what I'm identified as.
As long as my Sisters and I are comfortable with each other, what else matters?
OK, having said that: alpha1906, I think your assessment rings true for GLOs (or any organization, really) where minority members are either chosen as, or just happen to be, token members. I also understand that ethnic/culture-based GLOs (and organizations) are a support structure for people of the particular ethnicity/culture.
As a minority, I concurr that minorities (myself included) need strong cultural structure to maintain and affirm my ethnic identity. My personal choice as far as maintaining that socio-cultural structure and support happens to be through non-greek organizations (including but not limited to my family, and city-wide cultural organizations). I would say that greek life is definitely a positive way to be supportive of one's culture/ethnicity, yet it's not the only way to do so.
With all the opportunities within greekdom as well as through non-greek organizations, if I can be supportive of my culture through non-greek orgs., and supportive of other ideals that are equally important to me through greek life, then I can accomplish the most in my life (and in others' lives) by affiliating with a greek. org that's not necessarily culturally based, yet supports ideals equally important to me. This doesn not mean I've turned my back on my heritage, or reject it in any way.
It infinitely enriches my life (and others' lives) to be involved with my family, temple, a community Indian association, as well as a community Hindu association. I've grown (and helped others grow) and affirmed that women can succeed and not be alone in our quest for excellence, as students and as professionals in technical fields, through my Sisterhood (Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies).
I don't
at all refute the choice of members in BGLOs, LGLOs, AAGLOs, MCGLOs...as you can tell, I am all for supporting, promoting, and living one's heritage, and if greek life is the best avenue for someone to promote and sustain their heritage, I'm all for it! Yet I certainly do want to bring to light on why a minority may choose to go the GLO route, even if a greek organization of their culture/ethnicity exists.
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equeen
A Lioness has her Pride!
@>--;--
Alpha Sigma Kappa - Women in Technical Studies
[This message has been edited by equeen (edited August 14, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by equeen (edited August 14, 2000).]