From our research, it is clear that the Greek system is mainly white and because of the expensive dues it limits members to those of a certain socio-economic class, which, by nature, is not diverse or inclusive. There exists an air of exclusivity and bias surrounding sororities. Whether it affects everyone or just certain individuals, it is present and harmful. It is also important to note that it does not appear to be an issue specific to Northwestern, but rather an issue based on the fundamental structure and concept of sororities, which persists across the nation. In an interview with a sorority president who wished to remain anonymous, we learned that there actually exists some competition between PHA sororities and multicultural sororities. She said in recent years her sorority has aimed to diversify their pledge classes specifically by race. However, it was not as easy as intended because some multicultural sororities saw this as taking their potential new members away from their already small community. This creates some hostility between the two communities, creating a pressing need for open dialogue. We also think it is important to note that while the Greek community may appear exclusive, unfair, and nontransparent, it’s selective nature is similar to that of many other organizations on campus. Northwestern students can apply for dozens of positions in various clubs and organizations and be rejected numerous times with no explanation. In addition, an interesting concept which arose from our research, was that of individuals who appreciate and are involved in sororities, but are still adamantly against the methods of recruitment. Why then do so many women submit themselves to and perpetuate a system they believe is wrong? In our opinion, it is because they feel the advantages of joining a sorority will outweigh the negative implications of the recruitment process. Several women we interviewed said they felt the daily life in a sorority was drastically different from the few days of recruitment. They said they felt that despite the forced conversations and blind judgment, their friendships with their sisters are genuine and rooted in like values. While it is easy to blame these issues on a larger problem out of our control, we would like to charge Northwestern students with the task of altering this tone in the Greek community and working towards creating a more inclusive, diverse, and fair system.
From our research, it is clear that the Greek system is mainly white and because of the expensive dues it limits members to those of a certain socio-economic class, which, by nature, is not diverse or inclusive. There exists an air of exclusivity and bias surrounding sororities. Whether it affects everyone or just certain individuals, it is present and harmful. It is also important to note that it does not appear to be an issue specific to Northwestern, but rather an issue based on the fundamental structure and concept of sororities, which persists across the nation.
In an interview with a sorority president who wished to remain anonymous, we learned that there actually exists some competition between PHA sororities and multicultural sororities. She said in recent years her sorority has aimed to diversify their pledge classes specifically by race. However, it was not as easy as intended because some multicultural sororities saw this as taking their potential new members away from their already small community. This creates some hostility between the two communities, creating a pressing need for open dialogue.
We also think it is important to note that while the Greek community may appear exclusive, unfair, and nontransparent, it’s selective nature is similar to that of many other organizations on campus. Northwestern students can apply for dozens of positions in various clubs and organizations and be rejected numerous times with no explanation.
In addition, an interesting concept which arose from our research, was that of individuals who appreciate and are involved in sororities, but are still adamantly against the methods of recruitment. Why then do so many women submit themselves to and perpetuate a system they believe is wrong? In our opinion, it is because they feel the advantages of joining a sorority will outweigh the negative implications of the recruitment process. Several women we interviewed said they felt the daily life in a sorority was drastically different from the few days of recruitment. They said they felt that despite the forced conversations and blind judgment, their friendships with their sisters are genuine and rooted in like values.
While it is easy to blame these issues on a larger problem out of our control, we would like to charge Northwestern students with the task of altering this tone in the Greek community and working towards creating a more inclusive, diverse, and fair system.