Sorositute

[SWTXBelle]

I don't know about a "litmus test", but if I didn't know much about you, and you used that term, I would certainly think less of you than I would if you had not. Who would be impressed with someone using it? Perhaps it is popular within a peer group, but again, you can't count on it not being offensive.
Actually, I imagine most 18 - 24 year olds who use it don't think what it implies or suggests. But I think they should.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

I'm not going to get really wound up about a term that originated based on a stereotype of a materialist, promiscuous, superficial, anti-intellectual rare subgroup that has now come to be used and laughed AT by the women most likely to be harmed by the stereotype.

I'd prefer that no one use the term absolutely. But it's foolish to establish use of the term as some sort of misogynistic litmus test, especially for those of us who don't have a lot of experience with anyone using the term in real life.

Well you can think whatever you like is "foolish", but aren't you establishing your own kind of litmus test to this conversation then? Greek women should have more pride than to let "sorostitute" become an accepted part of the terminology used about or among them. And greek men should take more care in the use of it as well. I don't care where it "originated" from, it's a demeaning term and it's meant to refer to greek women as "less than".

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by SWTXBelle

I don't know about a "litmus test", but if I didn't know much about you, and you used that term, I would certainly think less of you than I would if you had not. Who would be impressed with someone using it? Perhaps it is popular within a peer group, but again, you can't count on it not being offensive.
Actually, I imagine most 18 - 24 year olds who use it don't think what it implies or suggests. But I think they should.

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Well you can think whatever you like is "foolish", but aren't you establishing your own kind of litmus test to this conversation then? Greek women should have more pride than to let "sorostitute" become an accepted part of the terminology used about or among them. And greek men should take more care in the use of it as well. I don't care where it "originated" from, it's a demeaning term and it's meant to refer to greek women as "less than".

I'm not making any judgments about the people who are really horrified by this usage other than that they may misread the deep emotions of the college kids using the term. It's not that I like people more for using the term or wouldn't prefer that they didn't.

I think if you were somehow able to eradicate the use of the word "sorostitute" some other term would creep into replace it because the stereotypical behaviors the term addresses would still be evident in some young women.

Now it's certainly possible that the term replacing it might be a whole lot less offensive since it wouldn't involved "prostitute," but back in my day we had "bow heads" and we know that we have "barbie doll chapters" today.

But a bunch of alumnae and more feminist undergraduates working themselves up over the term probably gives its users more satisfaction and the term more new life than ignoring it would. Some young people particularly like to do the very things that more grown up people think are wicked.

[nittanyalum]

I'm not "worked up", I'm responding to your continuing posts. I feel strongly it's a demeaning term, that doesn't make me "worked up". Trying to paint an opposing view as "hysterical" in some way doesn't strengthen yours.

And btw, "bow head" and "barbie doll chapter" IN NO WAY = the derogatory level of "sorostitute".

[Leslie Anne]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

But a bunch of alumnae and more feminist undergraduates working themselves up over the term probably gives its users more satisfaction and the term more new life than ignoring it would. Some young people particularly like to do the very things that more grown up people think are wicked.

You don't have to be a feminist to be offended by being called a prostitute.

And your solution, since another word would pop up, is to just let it go?

[ZTA72]

Since I'm way old and I have daughters who are currently actives, I find this term very offensive. Some things are beyond explaining.
ZTA72

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by Leslie Anne

You don't have to be a feminist to be offended by being called a prostitute.

And your solution, since another word would pop up, is to just let it go?

Co-sign.

If you feel the earth shift a little bit, that's our collective founders, rolling over in their graves.

[MandyPepperidge]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

Then I feel sorry for those women and their lack of sense of self-worth. I really do.

Mmmm, it's really the opposite. It's an adjective. If one is deemed a sorostitute, more often because of her image, rather than her conduct.

Women who are labeled as such are the popular girls. They are decked out in the big sunglasses, the designer jeans & bags, cute shoes, and so forth. These are the girls who put out an image of class. They are fun to be around and are popular. Most importantly, they exude confidence.

[UGAalum94]

My solution wouldn't involve alums fussing at people on a message board, especially in a dismissive way that suggested any person using the terms was likely to commit domestic violence, which is kind of how this whole issue popped up in the last 24 hours.

Ideally, I think I would encourage individual undergraduate members to avoid using the term and to ask their friends to avoid doing so as well.

But honestly I don't think I will do anything, which is about as much as I think other people from Greek Chat do about their issues in real life. What is it that you plan to do?

It's an offensive term. It's more offensive than "bow head" and "barbie" and probably about as offensive as "frat mattress" which I think we've heard before. But I'm not sure the way to get people to think differently about using a term is to give them high handed lectures.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by MandyPepperidge

Mmmm, it's really the opposite.

Women who are labeled as such are the popular girls. They are decked out in the big sunglasses, the designer jeans & bags, cute shoes, and so forth. These are the girls who put out an image of class. They are fun to be around and are popular. Most importantly, they exude confidence.

Oh, I wish you hadn't posted this.

[AOE2AlphaPhi]

I don't understand how it could be anything but offensive!

[MandyPepperidge]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

Oh, I wish you hadn't posted this.

But it's the truth!!

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

But I'm not sure the way to get people to think differently about using a term is to give them high handed lectures.

Your posting this is the height of irony.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by MandyPepperidge

Mmmm, it's really the opposite. It's an adjective. If one is deemed a sorostitute, more often because of her image, rather than her conduct.

Women who are labeled as such are the popular girls. They are decked out in the big sunglasses, the designer jeans & bags, cute shoes, and so forth. These are the girls who put out an image of class. They are fun to be around and are popular. Most importantly, they exude confidence.

So others apply the term to them as a tear-down.

Thus, it should offend.

[UGAalum94]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

If you feel the earth shift a little bit, that's our collective founders, rolling over in their graves.

This part is pretty interesting really.

How do you think our collective founders would respond?

I tend to think it would be to not use the term among themselves, of course, and to discourage others as well.

But I also think they would seek to address the behaviors by Greek women that have have created the negative stereotype. Materialism, promiscuity, superficiality, cliquishness, and a lack of seriousness about academic and intellectual life in some highly visible members might actually concern them more than the use of any particular term.

I'm certainly not saying that anyone deserves to be called a "sorostitute," so please don't take it in that direction.

I'm just pointing out that they often looked to their own behavior and values for solutions, rather than seeking to control others, or so it seems to me.