Has anti-greek sentiment hurt you? - Page 2

33girl · #16 06-20-2003, 04:36 PM

the problem w/ that wptw, is that in a job interview you shouldn't look at someone as a "sorority girl." She is a girl that happens to be in a sorority. It depends on the business. If you work for Catholic Charities you probably won't get hired if you are a member of the National Atheists Inc. However, your membership in ASA, Amnest Int'l or NOW should have nothing to do with working for the Limited or McDonald's if you're not proselytizing on the job site.

The other problem with being biased against someone based on Greek affiliation is that you are going by YOUR experience at YOUR college. Maybe you went to LSU and hated Greeks, but maybe if you went to Pitt, you would have liked them and even joined. Greeks are not homogenous. And as far as I know, assuming a group is homogenous is a component of discrimination.

SlipRock 229 · #17 06-20-2003, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wptw
I have a problem with the word “properly” in this sentence. To you, it’s improper to characterize sorority girls as shallow, vapid, elitist, promiscuous substance abusing hazers. But I know plenty of people who would consider that characterization perfectly accurate and proper.

It *IS* improper. If this person being interviewed is professional acting, is well dressed, is well spoken, why should I let her affiliation cloud my judgement? She's not a gum smacking bubblehead...she's looking for work and I'll bet she's pretty damn serious about it too.

It can be the interviewer's *GENERAL* perception...but in no way should it come into play when doing a new interview...unless of course she's / he's giving every indication of fitting the stereotype....ie; unshaven / smells of booze...late to the interview...etc.

Point being is that if that person is doing interviews and is already sporting preconcieved ideas as to what he / she feels sorority / fraternity person(s) are like, then they are in the wrong job.

Quote:

I tend to agree with you that GLO affiliation is more often a sign of strength than weakness, but we are not necessarily in the majority.

What are you basing this from? Neither of us has any substantial evidence proving this one way or the other, hence my keeping it "hypothetical". I know if I were in the position of hiring, I'd probe the greek affiliation a bit..asking what they did etc and get a feel for their answers. True, not all are the same...but I'd hope most greeks are striving to do their best.

Quote:

It is not illegal to be blinded by preconceived notions about sorority girls.

Perhaps not, so long as it's kept as a personal opinion and not used to solely base one's employment.

Quote:

And in my opinion it’s not even inappropriate. My business is a reflection of me, my beliefs and my ideals. If based on my experience and perceptions, a sorority girl is not suited to my workplace, then that’s really none of anyone else’s business.

I would hope she's not suited to your business because of WHO she is, not WHAT she is. If her personality isnt fitting the company line, then sure....you have reasons. But sorority / fraternity should play a small, if minute part in all of this..it should *never* be the deciding factor.

CutiePie2000 · #18 06-20-2003, 04:51 PM

I think you have to be careful what you put on your resume for "interests", as it can hurt you. For example, if you are applying to a very conservative place, putting down that you are a member of Greenpeace is probably not wise. Similarly, if you are applying to a meat packing plant, don't put down that you're a member of PETA. I could go on, but I am sure that you catch my drift......

SlipRock 229 · #19 06-20-2003, 04:56 PM

True...We as a GLO community make it a point to tout who is famous in our ranks, and most of them are business person's or politicians. Some are sports / actors...

Putting that we are in a GLO on our resume (to me) represents many things based on how you look at it.

I dont think it hurts to say you are in one...as long as you represent your chapter in a dignified, professional manner.

As I said..I think its not something that should weigh heavily either way on a resume....unless of course your prospective boss is an alum...

*EDIT*

I do think, however, that the "reality" shows of fraternities and sororities are giving us all a *very* bad name...producers are looking to sensationalize it for ratings..so they edit it ...makes it look way worse than it is or can be

RUgreek · #20 06-20-2003, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by wptw
It is not illegal to be blinded by preconceived notions about sorority girls.

And in my opinion it’s not even inappropriate. My business is a reflection of me, my beliefs and my ideals. If based on my experience and perceptions, a sorority girl is not suited to my workplace, then that’s really none of anyone else’s business.

Discrimination is not okay, and it sounds like as long as you follow the law, you don't care who you end up discriminating. Truth is, once you feel you've been discriminated, you can resort to one of the protected classes for legal relief. Unless your business has a BFOQ, your hiring practices are other people's business. You can create any image you want for yourself and your customers, but unless it follows the industry standard for your business, that image won't be an excuse for discrimination in court.

Sorry

sugar and spice · #21 06-20-2003, 05:13 PM

I don't think wptw is speaking from a personal standpoint, just a hypothetical one. And from a hypothetical standpoint, it's completely legal to discriminate against someone because of their sorority or fraternity membership. It may not be RIGHT, but there's nothing to stop them from doing it . . . so it's up to you to guage properly whether or not it's going to help you or hurt you to put your Greek affiliation down on a resume.

SlipRock 229 · #22 06-20-2003, 05:16 PM

You are correct...highly rare that someone would say "this is why we didnt hire you". We can only *hope* that they are a fair person.

Personally..if someone was that shallow..I wouldnt want to work for them. (as in just saying "You were greek? No thanks!")

aephi alum · #23 06-20-2003, 05:22 PM

No, discrimination is not ok. Certainly discriminating against someone just because they're in a GLO is wrong... but sadly, a lot of people do still subscribe to the theory that all sorority members are ditzes and all fraternity members are drunken louts. Let's face it, if the interviewer is biased against greeks, s/he will find some other way to justify the decision to hire the GDI instead of the XYZ.

Let me throw this out for discussion in regards to listing your GLO affiliation on your resume. A lot of people, even a lot of greeks, think that greek life is something that's just for college. So if you list your GLO affiliation on your resume (other than for an internship or a first job out of college) it can look like you're just adding filler - even if you're actively involved on the alum level.

Discuss

CatStarESP4 · #24 06-20-2003, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SlipRock 229

GASP!! You didnt tell her about the "Pledge Sheep of Carnal Rights"? Did you???

A cult...now *that* is a new one..hehe [/B]

Don't worry SlipRock229, I didn't tell her about the "Pledge Sheep of Carnal Rights". I tried to set her straight about her assumptions.

GeekyPenguin · #25 06-20-2003, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CutiePie2000
I think you have to be careful what you put on your resume for "interests", as it can hurt you. For example, if you are applying to a very conservative place, putting down that you are a member of Greenpeace is probably not wise. Similarly, if you are applying to a meat packing plant, don't put down that you're a member of PETA. I could go on, but I am sure that you catch my drift......

CP2000 is right, once again.

I'm always cautious about resumes - for instance, I was president of College Democrats, but I will not mention that on resumes when applying for jobs in my home county. It's the 2nd most Republican county in the nation, so I don't think being a Democrat will help me much.

I also held 5 offices in my sorority as an active, but my resume simply says "Gamma Phi Beta, Member." If they want to confuse that with an honor society, go for it.

Munchkin03 · #26 06-21-2003, 11:48 AM

Like everyone's saying, it depends on your audience. With many of the more liberal organizations I have volunteered for, placing my affiliation could hurt me, since Greek organizations have the stereotype of being bastions of conservatism. On the other hand, when I am applying to jobs at home, I list my affiliation--and all of the major offices (presidential/vice-presidential) that I have had. Why? I'm from the South, and my interviewers there have almost always had questions about my affiliation (if I know so-and-so, if their child is going through Recruitment--what they should know, etc.), while most don't know anything about my school(confusing it with a HBCU or thinking it's in Long Island when it's in Rhode Island).

Last summer, I volunteered with an organization, and when my (independent) supervisor found out that I was in a sorority (via my resume), she was actually really excited. It turned out that the other intern was in a fraternity, and she was hoping we could encourage our organizations to work together with their organization. Nothing came of it, but you never know what doors will be opened!