What is the rationale for recruiting a "type"?

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

I think when you look at some pictures on chapter websites, you can tell that there are groups that definitely recruit a type. We had a couple where I went to school as well. It was well-known and obvious.

I guess it is hard for me to fathom that the highest goal of a group of college women is that they are the "hot blondes" on campus. I know it is probably the case, but still...

Why is it that some people assume that just because you and your sisters are attractive and care about your appearance that it's your only or highest goal? My collegiate chapter was often described as the hot blondes but we were also the highest GPA house my entire tenure there and won many national philanthropy awards as well as academic accolades. All women are multidimensional.

[KSUViolet06]

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

Why is it that some people assume that just because you and your sisters are attractive and care about your appearance that it's your only or highest goal? My collegiate chapter was often described as the hot blondes but we were also the highest GPA house my entire tenure there and won many national philanthropy awards as well as academic accolades. All women are multidimensional.

Very true.

Blonde and attractive doesn't mean you're not well-rounded.

[justgo_withit]

Originally Posted by Greek_or_Geek?

Why is it that some people assume that just because you and your sisters are attractive and care about your appearance that it's your only or highest goal? My collegiate chapter was often described as the hot blondes but we were also the highest GPA house my entire tenure there and won many national philanthropy awards as well as academic accolades. All women are multidimensional.

Because you met/saw one or two members in one or two situations acting shallow or stuck up and that automatically means that the entire chapter is like that, of course

Seriously now, I think it's part of the way that people would rather identify a group by a negative trait than a positive one, the way news reports on Greek life are almost always negative. Story about bright, caring girls doing philanthropy? Boring. Story about shallow, controlling stepford wives making their pledges line up and circle their fat? Much more interesting/profit-making. In the same way, when Greeks look for a one-liner to sum up a house you can't go "oh they're smart involved house" because that's not very interesting (and hopefully describes most chapters at the school), but "blonde cokewhores" is much more interesting and makes us feel better about our own group. It's easy to be rude to the blonde cokewhores and not feel bad about talking badly about them in an attempt to get more/better new members- much harder to do so with the smart involved house (who happens to be pretty).

Alternately, I do believe that there are houses that value good looks during MS, among other things of course. But if you're in a group that doesn't (or, more sensitively, can't because you don't get those girls) value good looks during MS, you start rationalizing that the others are superficial human beings and you're better than them because you're not like that. It kind of sucks to think that other groups might have value when your whole selling point is "join us because those girls are useless hot blonde clones".

[SoCalGirl]

Originally Posted by Mevara

Are you sure they recruit a type? Have you thought maybe they just recruit girls that are just similar to themselves?

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

I think when you look at some pictures on chapter websites, you can tell that there are groups that definitely recruit a type. We had a couple where I went to school as well. It was well-known and obvious.

I guess it is hard for me to fathom that the highest goal of a group of college women is that they are the "hot blondes" on campus. I know it is probably the case, but still...

Think about how often you meet best friends who look like sisters? Like attracts like and people that hang around each other a ton will start developing similar interests and tastes.

So even if the "Hot Blonde" chapter recruits a "Not Hot Bruenette" she's likely to start eating and working out like her sisters. So maybe she becomes "Hot". If she has lots of bottle blonde sisters she may decide to give it a whirl too. Now she's just another "Hot Blonde" sister.

[Mevara]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Think about how often you meet best friends who look like sisters? Like attracts like and people that hang around each other a ton will start developing similar interests and tastes.

So even if the "Hot Blonde" chapter recruits a "Not Hot Bruenette" she's likely to start eating and working out like her sisters. So maybe she becomes "Hot". If she has lots of bottle blonde sisters she may decide to give it a whirl too. Now she's just another "Hot Blonde" sister.

This!

[33girl]

This question is offensive on multiple levels. The OP's chapter would never do such a thing, of course.

[TriDeltaSallie]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This question is offensive on multiple levels. The OP's chapter would never do such a thing, of course.

Why is it offensive? The topic of chapter "types" comes up in just about every lengthy recruitment story we get.

And my chapter was never in the position to be selective enough to only go after certain types. When your goal is simply to approach something even close to quota, you aren't thinking about establishing your chapter as a certain type on campus.

[Greek_or_Geek?]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

And my chapter was never in the position to be selective enough to only go after certain types. When your goal is simply to approach something even close to quota, you aren't thinking about establishing your chapter as a certain type on campus.

That explains a lot about your perspective. It's easy to dismiss other chapters as shallow for their choices when you're not in a position to have choices.

[33girl]

Originally Posted by TriDeltaSallie

And my chapter was never in the position to be selective enough to only go after certain types. When your goal is simply to approach something even close to quota, you aren't thinking about establishing your chapter as a certain type on campus.

If your chapter truly thought it was not in a position to be selective, then it's not our fault that your chapter followed stupid advice.

Even if you are 50% under total, even if you have to pray every night that girls will sign bids with you and/or not drop out before initiation and/or self terminate, the day you stop being selective is the day you might as well give up and close your doors. No one wants that which everyone can get.

And I think you are way overestimating this generation, considering that Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton have careers.

[crescent&pearls]

Originally Posted by 33girl

This question is offensive on multiple levels.

I don't think it's offensive. I think attempting to recruit a certain "type" of new member is a trap that both competitive and non competitive chapters can fall into. It goes along with that mentality, and I know we've all heard this about some PNM or another that goes something like this" "well, she's just not *insert greek letters here* material." That always make me CRINGE.

When a chapter strays from recruiting members that meet their membership standards and either goes after or dismisses women that they think present a specific image, they are headed for trouble, IMO.

For example, if the chapter that wants to improve it's prestige standing on campus targets only women who are heavily involved in student government or prestigious campus orgs, your chapter might end up with a leadership vacuum of its own with too many women that are overly involved in other campus activities and therefore don't have the time or interest in making their sorority membership their top priority.

On the other hand, a less competitive chapter that doesn't work to attract some "bling" for their chapter, maybe thinking they should only pursue women who are "natural" or "down to earth" are probably not only selling themselves short, but missing out on some great PNMs who would be assets to the chapter and great sisters.

Bottom line, we've all got to work to create balance in our chapters and remember that the recruitment process is largely a leap of faith. The reality is that most PNMs could be happy and have a great experience in almost any chapter, if she meets the basic membership requirements and has the right attitude, and most chapters are diverse on all kinds of levels. Isn't one of the greatest things about sorority membership discovering the talents and qualities of your sisters that don't overtly come across in recruitment?

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by SoCalGirl

Think about how often you meet best friends who look like sisters? Like attracts like and people that hang around each other a ton will start developing similar interests and tastes.

So even if the "Hot Blonde" chapter recruits a "Not Hot Bruenette" she's likely to start eating and working out like her sisters. So maybe she becomes "Hot". If she has lots of bottle blonde sisters she may decide to give it a whirl too. Now she's just another "Hot Blonde" sister.

LOL--within an eight year time frame, two of my brunette cousins joined same NPC group at different (SEC and Big Ten) schools, and they both became bottle blonde sisters. I, too, wonder whether blond-ing is a semi-requirement for collegians of their group.