Sororities and Feminism

[Old_Row]

Originally Posted by als463

You know, I've actually had this type of discussion with another sorority friend of mine (a Theta Phi Alpha Alumna who is also a doctoral student). She considers herself to be a feminist and I do not consider myself to be one. I think that, while the idea of sororities began to support women in a male-dominated society, they can be viewed by some as the opposite of a feminist movement. How many young women choose to join because they want to meet their future husband or attend parties in the hopes to be the next Stepford wife? Am I saying that is right? No. Do I believe that every woman who joins is like that? Of course not. I know there are many women out there who are strong and incredible leaders. Those are the women who prove that sororities are a great way to hone their skills. I'm a proud sorority woman--whatever that may mean to various people.

Great topic, DBB.

What's wrong with having one of the reasons for joining a group be to meet appropriate nice and educated men who might make good husbands? I don't think wanting to be happily married with children makes you less of a woman. Isn't feminism supposed to be about giving women choices to do what they want in life?

[als463]

Originally Posted by Old_Row

What's wrong with having one of the reasons for joining a group be to meet appropriate nice and educated men who might make good husbands? I don't think wanting to be happily married with children makes you less of a woman. Isn't feminism supposed to be about giving women choices to do what they want in life?

OldRow,
I truly agree with you on that one. I never said it was wrong. Personally, I agree that college is a great place to meet your future mate because you both clearly have some things in common like wanting to further your education and (should he be a fraternity man) wanting to be philanthropic. I'm not saying this is bad in any way--so, I hope that's not how my statement came off. What I'm saying is that some people might argue that joining a sorority in order to eventually find a future husband is anything but, being about feminism. I'll admit that when I went to college, I already decided I would not marry a man who did not have a college degree. Does that make me a bad person or someone who wants a man to take care of me? No. That's just my preference.

[peppermint23]

Originally Posted by Old_Row

What's wrong with having one of the reasons for joining a group be to meet appropriate nice and educated men who might make good husbands? I don't think wanting to be happily married with children makes you less of a woman. Isn't feminism supposed to be about giving women choices to do what they want in life?

Well there are different schools of feminist thought, and though I'd say yes in a broad sense, but feminism is also about demystifying women and fighting stereotypes, expectations and gender roles that ultimately harm many -if not all - women.

However I completely agree that no one should be looked down upon for making her own way in the world and being happily married with children. That's a wonderful and rightful choice.

[AGDAlum]

I am a feminist. If GC would let me post a picture on this post it would be this: http://store.feminist.org/thisiswhat...ackte,e-1.aspx
(I have a bunch of stickers with this slogan.)

I'm a member of an NPC group, and the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and the American Association of University Women. "Educated women" is a radical feminist concept, going back to Elena Piscopia (first woman to get a PhD, circa 1678) and, in the U.S. Mary Lyon, Emma Willard, Catharine Beecher, et al.

I read "The Feminine Mystique" when I went through Panhellenic rush/recruitment in September, 1970, and did not then (nor do I now) consider that contradictory or ironic.

I recommend reading "Bound by a Mighty Vow: Sisterhood and Women's Fraternities," by Diana Turk, and "When Everything Changed: the Amazing Journey of American Women, 1960 to the Present," by Gail Collins. (You can borrow both of them from your library. But you knew that already, didn't you?)