Here is some info from one of the authorities on Sigma history
Doves, as most chapters use them, are nothing like the way doves used
to be.
(pre-1980) The reason for this is because of the changes in times and
such.
Things that are done now are different in many cases than why, and
how
they were done 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, etc.
Doves used to be, (pre-1980's), either the girlfreinds or wives of the
brothers. Depending on where you were in the country you either had:
1) Sigma Shadows
2) Sigma Doves
(and there may be more that I can't remember right now)
Likewise Zeta's had Zeta Knights who were either their boy-friends or
husbands.
Pre-1980 a women did not pledge to be a Shadow or a Dove, she basically
just
had to be dating a brother or she might have been the chapter queen.
Being
a dove or a shadow was basically a conferred title, and most of the
time
nothing was really expected of them, yet it was used in many cases as a
recruiting tool on the collegiate level. The idea, if your Doves were
good
looking more guys would want to join your frat. Most of the
competition
(pre-1970 or so) was on fraternities out dressing or out performing
(community service - campus programs) each other. The other aspect was
if
the women around them looked good, and dressed well the more prestige
the
fraternity would get.
In some cases the Doves or Shadows, pre-1980 again, would be encouraged
to
become Zeta's. Not all the time, but due to the contact this would
sometimes be the case. I have found that more of the collegiates
called
their girlfriends and such Doves, and graduates most of the time called
their girlfriends and wives, Shadows. All of this I have just
explained is
because of the how the social environment was pre-1970.
Now we get to the 1970's and 1980's. In the 1980's fraternities and
sororities saw an increase in membership that had never been seen
before.
Some of this possibly was due to more people be able to attend college.
Where pre-1970 anyone attending college was considered elite. Social
trends
and such began to change. Pre-1970 more people were prone to wear
suits or
business casual type wear. The 1970's and 1980's brought on a change
in
style and fashion. Also, society changed as far as relations between
male
and female. Things considered unacceptable for dating became
acceptable.
Now we get to fraternities and sororities in the 1970's and 1980's. It
seems that somewhere in the 1970's and 1980's Doves became less of the
special women in the lives of the brothers, but the women that were
just
around the brothers. As campus life, and dorm life changed you begin
to see
more chapters pledging Doves and such. This follows other trends since
in
the late 1970's is when the hand signs started. The 1980's is when
doing
the calls started. Steps shows became more and more prominant in the
1970's. Hazing increased with the numbers in the 1980's. In line with
this
many chapters had Doves who were basically, and excuse the term, "the
hoes
for the chapter". In about 1990 and 1991 the NPHC scrapped the whole
auxillary deal. Some of this is because of the changes I noted earlier
which were changes in society. So officially there are no Doves. Even
though some graduate chapters will call their wives either Doves or
Shadows
depending. That is only because their wives aren't pledging to be
this.
Well, I hope that helps. Let me know if I need to go into more depth.
Ahab El'Askeni ** Life Member #1429
Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
CPT. AHAB the PuPPeT MaStEr
Fall 96 ** LEGION OF DOOM ** #5 of 11
Initiated Dangerous Delta Theta Chapter
@ Prairie View A&M University
Now Kappa Beta Sigma Chapter
Brooklyn, New York
The Sigma Historical Society
http://www.sigmahistory.cjb.net
sigmahistory@ureach.com
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