[aephi alum]

There have been similar threads on this topic before, but they all seem to be a few years old. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you'll see a section labeled "Similar Threads". You may want to check those out.

Anyway. My father is vehemently anti-greek. According to him, the fraternities at his school openly hazed and were known more for drinking and partying than anything else. (This was in the 1950's.) So when I told him I was rushing, he hit the roof. But there wasn't a thing he could do to stop me.

My mother went to college overseas, so she really didn't know what a sorority was. So I told her all about the positive aspects of being in a sorority.

During Parents' Weekend (which was a few weeks into the semester - I was still a pledge) my sorority hosted a parents' brunch, and my parents had the opportunity to actually meet my sisters. My mother didn't really have a pre-formed opinion of the greek system, and my sisters made a very favorable impression on her. And my father's opinion turned right around. He came to realize that I had joined a group where new members are given a warm welcome and treated with respect, not a group where pledges are paddled and forced to chug beer and do shots of tequila. (And, really, he should know me better than that. I'm not the sort of person who's so desperate to "belong" that I'd put up with hazing.)

So, you could try simply arranging for your mother to meet some of your sisters. Next time your mother is in town, invite her to have lunch or coffee with you, your big, and maybe another sister or two that you're close to. Maybe once your mother meets your sisters, her opinion will change.