"Soror" ?

[REE1993]

I have been out of the loop for 10 years, but what is the origin of the term "sorors'? My chapter was in New England, and I checked with a few of my alum sisters, and we never heard of this term before.

Forgive my old-agedness!
Thanks!

[Elephant Walk]

it's some black sorority term, no one else uses it.

[AlphaFrog]

It's short for Sorority Sister.

GPhiB started using Sorority instead of Women's Fraternity, like previous orgs had done.

[tunatartare]

Soror is Latin for "sister."

[sigmadiva]

He's right, although he said it in a negative kind of way.....

It is very commom among the NPHC sororities to refer to our members as 'Sorors', which is derived from the Latin meaning sister.

As far as I know with GSS, the term 'soror' is commonly used among the chapters at HBCUs. They (GSS) have also adopted a 'call' and handsign for the org but it seems to be prevalent among the members at HBCUs.

There was actually a thread or two about GSS with respect to the differences among the org at a PWI vs a HBCU.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by KLPDaisy

Soror is Latin for "sister."

Exactly, as "frater" is Latin for brother.

NPHC sororities use "soror" rather than "sister" in much the same way that I have seen some fraternities -- both NPHC and NIC -- refer to members as "fraters" rather than "brothers."

[REE1993]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

it's some black sorority term, no one else uses it.

Gamma Simga Sigma is not a "black" or "white sorority, and we are not NPC or NPHC.

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

It's short for Sorority Sister.

I'm not sure what else you would mean, but umm...duh?

Yikes! I meant when did this term become popular. Like I said, I had never heard it til GC.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by REE1993

Gamma Simga Sigma is not a "black" or "white sorority, and we are not NPC or NPHC.

No one was saying you were...

[AlphaFrog]

Originally Posted by REE1993

Yikes! I meant when did this term become popular. Like I said, I had never heard it til GC.

I read your question wrong, so I went back and fixed my answer. I was thinking you were actually asking where 'Soror' came from...not when. It seemed a bit like asking how "Will" became short for "William"...pretty obvious.

[MysticCat]

Originally Posted by AlphaFrog

I read your question wrong, so I went back and fixed my answer. I was thinking you were actually asking where 'Soror' came from...not when.

I read it the same way, given that the question was "but what is the origin of the term 'sorors'?"

REE1993, are you asking when members of Gamma Gamma Sigma started using the term?

[sigmadiva]

Originally Posted by REE1993

Gamma Simga Sigma is not a "black" or "white sorority, and we are not NPC or NPHC.

That is understood, but since you have chapters/members at HBCUs, where the majority of students are Black, what has resulted is that GSS on *those campuses* have adopted NPHC styles, and using the term soror is just one of many.

Yikes! I meant when did this term become popular. Like I said, I had never heard it til GC.

Since AKA is recognized as the first collegiate sorority for Black women, I'm guessing the term soror became popular in 1908. But to tell you the truth, I've never researched the word.

[blackngoldengrl]

From the ppl in my family and friends who are in NPHC sororities, I've heard the term all my life (I'm 25). I would think that it has been in use since the organizations were establsihed in the early 1900s.
I've never heard any non-NPHC groups use the term, but my mom and her friend refer to my sisters as my "sorors," although I would just say "sister."

P.S. my mom is not in a GLO

[REE1993]

Ahh ok this makes sense to me know. I knew what it "meant" but I didn't know of the origins. Like I said, I am in New England, and have never heard the term before. We use the word "sister".

Thanks everyone for the explanations!
Sisterly,
Ree

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

it's some black sorority term, no one else uses it.

Well aren't you a basket of cool peaches on a warm summer day?

There are latina and multicultural sororities that use "soror." It is most traditionally used with historically and predominantly black sororities.

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

...a basket of cool peaches on a warm summer day.

Drool, drool!