muslim and wanting to rush

[violetpretty]

She couldn't think of a word for people who are "racist" against religion. Religionist?

[BandGinterest]

i am not offended about by the comment about culture in the south. i live in a small little town in georgia where so i am aware of the southern culture but thank you for telling me i appreciate it.

also i dont think there are any stupid questions about my religion. i am willing to answer anything i would rather people ask me then to just assume.

and as far as the mandatory dress code. if i was around all girls i dont have to be covered. but if were some other situation i would cover ,skirts i can put pants or leggings under and tops i can wear a jacket over or a long sleeve top under , and i dont really know any universities that requires you to wear mini skirts or strapless dresses to anything they usually arent that specific... besides im sure if i explain to them in rush the situation and they give me a bid that they are willing to deal with my dress code.

and actually there are more than a few girls that wear hijab in the south. i dont know where you live but dallas,houston,arlington in texas and georgia, north and south carolina, florida and kentucky have huge muslim communities with plenty of girls who wear hijab. you may not see there but there are there.At my university alone there are at least 10 girls and i am not in a major city.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by violetpretty

She couldn't think of a word for people who are "racist" against religion. Religionist?

Great word!

[Army Wife'79]

Re: the "mandatory" clothing, my daughter is given a list in early summer of what she has to wear for rush week (the sorority usually buys the shirts) and she has all summer to find the little skirts, sundresses, matching flip flops, etc. They have "theme" days where they all look alike all week.

[Tom Earp]

Possibly living in a culture far different than what you are used to could be a culture shock. If you have no plans in returning to a full musilum culture, it may work as it has for possibly some others.

If it is to big a thing to overcome, then the best thing to do is not join if you do not or will not feel comfortable with it!

If your concern is being dressed in cultural garb, Greek Social life does of course include males.

You and only you can make the final choice.

[BandGinterest]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Possibly living in a culture far different than what you are used to could be a culture shock. If you have no plans in returning to a full musilum culture, it may work as it has for possibly some others.

If it is to big a thing to overcome, then the best thing to do is not join if you do not or will not feel comfortable with it!

If your concern is being dressed in cultural garb, Greek Social life does of course include males.

You and only you can make the final choice.

um ok im definetly confused. i was only raised in two places i was born and raised puerto rico and raised in the united states as well (so no i am not asian) ...i have worn hijab since i was 13 and i wear it all year long so yes jeans and a long tee in summer. i never lived in a muslim country i grew up in a gated community attended private prep school. pretty much everything i do involves me being the only person of color. to me going to the "hood" would be a culture shock(no offense to those who reside there). my religious attire doesnt (its not cultural) doesnt bother me. i love it and am comfortable in any situation i go into. greek social life does involve males i understand. From what i was told by a friend is that if i am active in the chapter with the sisterhood activities , commnity service and fundraisers (if i do end up with a bid) and choose not to go to a toga party or something that no one is going to think of me in a negative light.

but thanks for the reply's thus far

Amirah

[nittanyalum]

BandG, don't listen to Tom.

Tom, you really shouldn't reply in these kinds of threads, you don't do it well, you don't mask your ignorance and the resulting confusion is unnecessary.

And BandG, my read of this thread is that you don't need much advice. You seem confident and secure in your beliefs, in your practices and that your campus is not unfamiliar with students that dress and behave the way you do. So if all of that is true, get your recs and go through rush and what will be will be. It seems like your head's on your shoulders straight enough that you'll be fine no matter what the result, be yourself, don't compromise, and see if there's a sisterhood that fits.

[fantASTic]

Originally Posted by BandGinterest

um ok im definetly confused. i was only raised in two places i was born and raised puerto rico and raised in the united states as well (so no i am not asian) ...i have worn hijab since i was 13 and i wear it all year long so yes jeans and a long tee in summer. i never lived in a muslim country i grew up in a gated community attended private prep school. pretty much everything i do involves me being the only person of color. to me going to the "hood" would be a culture shock(no offense to those who reside there). my religious attire doesnt (its not cultural) doesnt bother me. i love it and am comfortable in any situation i go into. greek social life does involve males i understand. From what i was told by a friend is that if i am active in the chapter with the sisterhood activities , commnity service and fundraisers (if i do end up with a bid) and choose not to go to a toga party or something that no one is going to think of me in a negative light.

but thanks for the reply's thus far

Amirah

You seem to have thought about it a lot, which I commend you for. Also, keep in mind these things:

They won't talk about toga parties with guys during recruitment, so no big deal.

And if you get a bid, you can always go to socials and mixers and not drink, right? I don't know a lot about your religion, but would that be a problem, to just go and hang out? If not, then just keep in mind that you don't HAVE to stay home!

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Possibly living in a culture far different than what you are used to could be a culture shock. If you have no plans in returning to a full musilum culture, it may work as it has for possibly some others.

If it is to big a thing to overcome, then the best thing to do is not join if you do not or will not feel comfortable with it!

If your concern is being dressed in cultural garb, Greek Social life does of course include males.

You and only you can make the final choice.

IGNORE HIM

[GammaPhi88]

As for the drinking issue, a friend of mine up at school is Muslim, and he does attend parties with alcohol with the rest of our friends. He simply doesn't drink while he is at those parties. Also, many campuses have dry pledging (mine does, and I know we are not the only campus). The fact that she doesn't drink should not be a problem.

[BabyPiNK_FL]

Originally Posted by Army Wife'79

Re: the "mandatory" clothing, my daughter is given a list in early summer of what she has to wear for rush week (the sorority usually buys the shirts) and she has all summer to find the little skirts, sundresses, matching flip flops, etc. They have "theme" days where they all look alike all week.

I know that my chapter would never have asked anyone to dress in a way that made them uncomfortable. whether it was due to religious needs or size. You just put on the most similar outfit you can and do your best which is all anyone can ask.

Also, because if their greek advisors or graduate assistants are men (and some are at my school) even though you'd be around women most of the time, it still may be an issue because they usually come to check the rooms for violations, etc. and we always have a/v problems and need someone to pop in and check on the room's equipment and these a/v specialists are usually male college students.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by GammaPhi88

As for the drinking issue, a friend of mine up at school is Muslim, and he does attend parties with alcohol with the rest of our friends. He simply doesn't drink while he is at those parties. Also, many campuses have dry pledging (mine does, and I know we are not the only campus). The fact that she doesn't drink should not be a problem.

Ditto. Several girls in my chapter did not drink, but they attended every party they wanted. I think the OP could even be creative with a toga.

I like her comment about wearing leggings under something short. This could be very cute.

[Thetagirl218]

Originally Posted by BabyPiNK_FL

I know that my chapter would never have asked anyone to dress in a way that made them uncomfortable. whether it was due to religious needs or size. You just put on the most similar outfit you can and do your best which is all anyone can ask.

This is exactly what I was thinking. If you do get a bid, I am sure they can be adjustments made to these "mandatory" outfits. Most sororities would never force someone to wear something against their religious beliefs! Good Luck!

[scoobis]

From a males point of view I think what you're doing is great greek diversity is somthing i wish there was more of on my campus with such a large muslim population. My fraternity was based on Christian ideals but I'm an atheist and it was sort of rough at first because we have prayers and such. But once people get to know you and aren't preoccupied by your beliefs its easier. I know comparing your situation to mine is completely differnt because people can't tell that I'm an atheist from what I'm wearing but it's relatable. Even if there is a house with religous affiliation though don't be turned off right away because I've never been forced to pray and when you look at the foundations of these organizations they support things that all religions respect like morality, character, scholarship, etc.

But the easiest thing is to just educate people and I'm sure you've done this in the past and you seem proud and intelligent enough to do it in the greek community. I say go for it, rush, have fun. It will be one of the greatest choices of your life when you find that one house full of people who are like you and you enjoy being around. From one religious minority to another...do it. I'm gonna go wander off back to the frat chat now...sorry ladies

This may be a stupid question which i could probably answer with google, but are there any muslim GLOs out there that anyone knows of?

[FSUZeta]

a few years ago someone posted an article on greekchat about a group of muslim women who had or were going to start a islamic-based sorority-if memory serves me correctly they were at u of kentucky or maybe tennessee?