Alexandra Robbins, Authoress of PLEDGED, said:

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by AlwaysSAI

Alright....so I may be deemed the spawn of satan for saying this and I'll preface it with-no, I'm not in an NPC org

But, I found Robbins' book to be very well stated. I found her opinion of sororities and greek life in general to be unbiased. No, the things presented in the book did not place sororities in the best light, but she was writing about 4 different girls in 4 different houses and their experiences in the sororities on their campus.

If anyone has any problem with anything in the book, I don't think Robbins is the one to blame. As a journalist, it is her job to present her findings-which I believe is exactly what she did. She stated many times that drinking is not a sorority phenomenon, but a college phenomenon and should not be compartmentalized into greek life alone.

If anyone has a problem with the way greek organizations were presented in the book, I honestly believe that there is only the greek community to blame. Yes, there is a stigma that goes along with being greek, but you can't blame Robbins for that. She investigated something that has been very sensationalized in the media for a number of years--and remember she is trying to sell books.

As for the secrets, I honestly doubt she is an initiated member of a greek letter organization. She had at least 3 different org's secrets in the book and I would bet money that those secrets were disclosed by ostricized members.

I found the book to be an honest interpretation of any aspect of greek life. I found myself identifying with many of the girls in the book and I'm in a music org and an honor org--not even NPC.

I think that the biggest problem that people have with the book is that they don't want to believe that sisters from other schools will ostracize them. They truly want to believe that 'we are all sisters and will love each other because of that' when that isn't always true.

As for Robbins' interpretation of the National's of most orgs--it's going to be a little out of touch with the collegiate side because most of them have been alumnae for quite a while. Yeah, every org has problem--both of my HQs do--NO ONE ORG IS PERFECT.

Seriously, what's the huff all about?

PS-I do agree with her thoughts on recruitment though. It's way too superficial even at schools with smaller greek communities.

My problem with the book isn't the story, it's her characterization of sorority women outside of the main story as well as her unnecessary revealing of secrets (again many of which have turned out to be false)

She huffs about a Sigma Kappa who was turned away from initiation because she had black-toed shoes. When a national officer was present at the initiation. How DARE we require our members to show up in appropriate attire for ritual events, when there's someone from HQ there no less.

And within the storyline itself, there was the girl who's boyfriend was, IIRC, verbally and emotionally abusive and the author is critical of the sorority sisters who want the girl to leave the guy. Because they "just don't understand" or some such. It is unsurprising for the girl to feel this way, for the narrator, it makes no sense. It's just a chance to be critical of those ostracizing sorority women again.

[cheerfulgreek]

I didn't see anything positive about the book. She's an outsider writing about something she's never been apart of. She focused more on the "stereotypical" negativity for ex: the body piercings in certain spots, the drain pipes that were filled with stomach acids from the eating disorders, the racism, and no offense to NPHC sororities but the little she said about NPHC sororities was mainly positive, like their GPAs, life long commitment ect. ect. ect. She really could have written that book without shadowing sorority girls, based on the stereotypes she was writing about.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Ithe little she said about NPHC sororities was mainly positive

It was beyond "mainly positive" - it was (to be blunt) a drop-dead blow job. So was the treatment she gave to co-ed groups - and that was REALLY ridiculous because in one breath it was "sorority girls are having random sex, how terrible" and in the next it was "the members of the co-eds have sex on their kitchen table, ha ha, isn't that cool and free and in touch with their sexuality."

It was typical Eastern liberal garbage - if you're in certain groups everything you do is fine, and if you're in what's termed part of the "patriarchy" you could do the exact same thing and you're awful. It's really amusing when it comes out of people who went to IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS (which are, of course, very selective institutions).

And as for believing "we are all sisters and we all love each other" - well, all it takes is one visit to a regional or district conference to see that there are sisters who you have ZERO in common with, and chapters you would have NEVER made it into (or wanted to be in). Unless you're hopelessly naive, she's really not saying anything new here.

PsychTau - I think Ole Miss and such are really extreme cases. Not only that, I'm sure there are girls who went thru rush at Ole Miss, got a bid from (whatever the "low woman on the totem pole" sorority is there) and wanted to accept it, but her mom or sister talked her out of it. I don't believe 18 year olds are as unrelentingly shallow as we sometimes make them out to be. But that is one of the things I like about deferred rush - yes the girls do hear all the rumors and reps, but they've probably also gotten to know some members as actual PEOPLE and they've also seen the other side of the "perfect" group.

[bejazd]

I don't have a problem with the author. I read her book about overachieving high school students first, and I actually thought that one was pretty good.

The thing about Pledged is that the book was salacious and sensational. Okay, maybe I'm a little older than the whole Girls Gone Wild generation, but she didn't really say anything new or provide any big revelations or great suggestions. The four women profiled were hardly a fair representation of the hundreds of thousands of NPC members. So it is what is is. I just wouldn't pay for her advice for women interested in NPC membership, as she clearly can't provide a fair and balanced opinion.

I can see why people want to read this stuff. If you're on the outside the whole thing is a little mystifying. Isn't that what we like about it?

I'm mystified by competitive cheerleading that starts with little girls at age six. And their moms. Maybe she can go undercover and investigate all that next!

[sigmadiva]

/Hijack/

Originally Posted by bejazd

I'm mystified by competitive cheerleading that starts with little girls at age six. And their moms. Maybe she can go undercover and investigate all that next!

She should. About 15 years ago there was a case here in Texas of the the 'Cheerleader Mom', this woman tried to kill her daughter's cheerleader rival. I've seen it get so cut throat and nasty to become a cheerleader as compared to sorority recruitment.

/End Hijack/

[NinjaPoodle]

Originally Posted by bejazd

The thing about Pledged is that the book was salacious and sensational. Okay, maybe I'm a little older than the whole Girls Gone Wild generation, but she didn't really say anything new or provide any big revelations or great suggestions. The four women profiled were hardly a fair representation of the hundreds of thousands of NPC members. So it is what is is. I just wouldn't pay for her advice for women interested in NPC membership, as she clearly can't provide a fair and balanced opinion.

I can see why people want to read this stuff. If you're on the outside the whole thing is a little mystifying. Isn't that what we like about it?

I agree 100%

[icicle22]

Originally Posted by bejazd

I don't have a problem with the author. I read her book about overachieving high school students first, and I actually thought that one was pretty good.

The thing about Pledged is that the book was salacious and sensational. Okay, maybe I'm a little older than the whole Girls Gone Wild generation, but she didn't really say anything new or provide any big revelations or great suggestions. The four women profiled were hardly a fair representation of the hundreds of thousands of NPC members. So it is what is is. I just wouldn't pay for her advice for women interested in NPC membership, as she clearly can't provide a fair and balanced opinion.

I can see why people want to read this stuff. If you're on the outside the whole thing is a little mystifying. Isn't that what we like about it?

I'm mystified by competitive cheerleading that starts with little girls at age six. And their moms. Maybe she can go undercover and investigate all that next!

She should.