"Sisterhood Is Powerful" by Prudence Mackintosh (Texas Monthly, Sept. 1976)

[jenidallas]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Weird, she also talks about houses being shuttered in the late 60's...I don't see any?

I don't think that GPB was there as late as 1988. In twenty years I've never met an alum past the 70s and we've always been told the house closed "around 1980". It had been dominant several years when I pledged in 1990.

[AGDAlum]

Originally Posted by DeltaBetaBaby

Weird, she also talks about houses being shuttered in the late 60's...I don't see any?

The dates aren't completely accurate. Alpha Gam closed in the early 70's and recolonized in the 80's, making that end date of 1988 correct.

[Ladybugmom]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Ok, I posted another Texas Monthly article, (this time about fraternities at UT) without fully reading it. Once I did, it was so horrifying and offensive that I took it down.

Offensive, in the descriptions of fraternity functions. Likely those descriptions were true, which makes them more offensive.

Would love to read that article Shirley..can you PM it to me??

[shirley1929]

Back to Prudence Macintosh - she wrote another great article about the summer camps in Texas. I know we've discussed it here, but it's a BIG thing here in Texas. An oldie but goodie...

http://books.google.com/books?id=gCw...mystic&f=false

[Just interested]

I love Prudence McIntosh. She wrote "The Southern Belle Primer, or Why Princess Margaret will never be a Kappa Kappa Gamma" Such a funny, witty, book about Southern women. She even goes into how Southern women talk about each other. Precious and darling being best and sweet at the bottom of the barrel. I have heard her speak several times. She is hysterical.

I remember this article very well. It did cause a big rumble around here and still felt somewhat today, although I don't think as much anymore.

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by Just interested

I love Prudence McIntosh. She wrote "The Southern Belle Primer, or Why Princess Margaret will never be a Kappa Kappa Gamma" Such a funny, witty, book about Southern women. She even goes into how Southern women talk about each other. Precious and darling being best and sweet at the bottom of the barrel. I have heard her speak several times. She is hysterical.

I remember this article very well. It did cause a big rumble around here and still felt somewhat today, although I don't think as much anymore.

Actually, I believe Marilyn Schwartz wrote that book: http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Belle.../dp/0385416679

Prudence wrote "Just As We Were A Narrow Slice of Texas Womanhood" which is a collection of these essays...the UT sorority one, the camp one I mentioned, etc...

http://www.amazon.com/Just-As-We-Wer...6138391&sr=1-1

Both hilarious reads!

[Ladybugmom]

Originally Posted by shirley1929

Actually, I believe Marilyn Schwartz wrote that book: http://www.amazon.com/Southern-Belle.../dp/0385416679

Prudence wrote "Just As We Were A Narrow Slice of Texas Womanhood" which is a collection of these essays...the UT sorority one, the camp one I mentioned, etc...

http://www.amazon.com/Just-As-We-Wer...6138391&sr=1-1

Both hilarious reads!

Just ordered both! I love Southern literature!

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by Ladybugmom

Just ordered both! I love Southern literature!

While "The Southern Belle Primer" is a fun and quick read, I'd consider William Faulkner, Harper Lee, and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Southern literature. "The Southern Belle Primer" is as much Southern literature as "The Preppy Handbook" was for New England lit.

[Ladybugmom]

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

While "The Southern Belle Primer" is a fun and quick read, I'd consider William Faulkner, Harper Lee, and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Southern literature. "The Southern Belle Primer" is as much Southern literature as "The Preppy Handbook" was for New England lit.

I guess "literature" is the wrong word..however, I trust that you knew what I meant.... I appreciate the links Shirley!!

[TSteven]

Originally Posted by Ladybugmom

Just ordered both! I love Southern literature!

If you love Southern literature - and yes, I know what you mean - I recommend three of her other books. “Thundering Sneakers”, “Retreads” and “Sneaking Out”. All are quite funny.

[carnation]

Originally Posted by TSteven

If you love Southern literature - and yes, I know what you mean - I recommend three of her other books. “Thundering Sneakers”, “Retards” and “Sneaking Out”. All are quite funny.

It's not Retards! It's Retreads!

And I'm getting her trilogy for Zeta Daughter's MIL, who has 5 sons. It's incredibly funny!

[shirley1929]

Originally Posted by Ladybugmom

Just ordered both! I love Southern literature!

Enjoy!

Originally Posted by Munchkin03

While "The Southern Belle Primer" is a fun and quick read, I'd consider William Faulkner, Harper Lee, and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Southern literature. "The Southern Belle Primer" is as much Southern literature as "The Preppy Handbook" was for New England lit.

Yep...definitely not "literature"!

Originally Posted by Ladybugmom

I guess "literature" is the wrong word..however, I trust that you knew what I meant.... I appreciate the links Shirley!!

You're welcome!

Originally Posted by Eightisgreat

I for one, wish someone would actually revisit this article for Texas Monthy on the notion of how things change, but somethings stay the same. The classic "Big 6" may still be a force at UT, but the descriptions have certainly changed and from my observations, some houses love talking the big 6 talk, but don't really represent the image presented back when the article was written. (Although the High Schools and Camps may be important...the type of girl they are cranking out is very different...therefore making the chapters very different) Many people on GC say the Big 6 will always have influence on rush at UT but the fact remains if someone would actually write an article on how the houses really are today, maybe, just maybe UT rush could become a better experience because girls aren't made to believe what is not true. And then we can spend the next 30 years talking about that article.

If you've read Texas Monthly in the last 15-20 years, you'll understand that they wouldn't touch these with a 10 foot pole anymore. While I love Prudence's writing, TM wouldn't dare publish such a puff piece these days. The article that I started to link (an expose' into the fraternities and their hazing and image problems) is the sort of thing they'd be after. Not to say that Texas Monthly is all negative (I'm a 20 year subscriber) but they'd be looking for the story within the story these days.

[Just interested]

You are so right! It is Marilyn Schwartz I heard speak. Both very funny women with a great sense of humor. I do get them confused.

[CougarGrad]

What a neat article. I had to laugh at the "pledge an ugly girl, but for God's sake, don't pledge a nymphomaniac" line.

[Eightisgreat]

I for one, wish someone would actually revisit this article for Texas Monthy on the notion of how things change, but somethings stay the same. The classic "Big 6" may still be a force at UT, but the descriptions have certainly changed and from my observations, some houses love talking the big 6 talk, but don't really represent the image presented back when the article was written. (Although the High Schools and Camps may be important...the type of girl they are cranking out is very different...therefore making the chapters very different) Many people on GC say the Big 6 will always have influence on rush at UT but the fact remains if someone would actually write an article on how the houses really are today, maybe, just maybe UT rush could become a better experience because girls aren't made to believe what is not true. And then we can spend the next 30 years talking about that article.