How do you explain a sorority to someone from another country?

[excelblue]

I just say it's a very American cultish institution of awesomeness.

[aephi alum]

I think Xidelt put it best.

It was very difficult for me to explain to my mother (who is British and attended university/medical school in Scotland) what a sorority is, why I wanted to join one, and what it meant to me then and means to me now. I think she understands certain aspects. For example, when she was in her first year at university, she was paired with a senior woman who helped her get acclimated to campus life, and she chose to be a senior woman later on - just like I had a big sister and a little sister. I explained to her that my sorority was involved with community service projects (I think that made her a little more comfortable with the idea) and that, while there is a social aspect to being in a sorority, and we would be having functions with fraternities, it didn't mean I'd be jumping into bed with random guys. She's bought me a few AEPhi-related items, including a cloisonné giraffe, but I can tell ... she doesn't get it.

My dad (who is American, and who attended a school where hazing in the greek system ran rampant) is highly anti-greek, and I am sure he colored my mom's perceptions. We had a brunch during parents' weekend, and my parents met all my sisters including my pledge sisters - and I think it put them at ease.

Anyway... I'd go with what Xidelt posted, with emphasis on the community service aspect.

And I'll stop blabbing now.

[SLAM<3 Always]

I'm in Europe, but many of the students in my program are from Asia if that helps. In Europe, many "secret societies" were outlawed so it's difficult to explain. I have no idea how Asian countries feel about the topic. Any ideas or points of reference I could use for either instance?

[KDCat]

It's not a gang. It's a club.

Seriously, though, lots of countries have Free Masons, so if the country has Masons, I'd explain that it's a fraternal organization for college women and college graduates, sort of like the Masons.

If they don't have Masons, I would explain that it's a club for college women and college graduates that does a lot of philanthropy work and sometimes offers housing to its members.

[AnchorAlumna]

I believe in another thread someone described student clubs that are common at some European colleges and universities, but most of them are co-ed. Student clubs of some kind are very common everywhere - faith based, study based, interest base - but the idea of getting together with your friends is universal.

In the US, I laugh when some of the faith-based colleges declare they don't have fraternities or sororities, but lo and behold they have "literary societies" or some other single-six groups identical to Greeks in everything but name.