Greek Recruitment Observation
Happy Monday!
When you go through formal recruitment at BU, as a female student interested in joining a sorority, there are many expectations.
The process itself is overwhelming. Second floor Luzerne, my freshman year, had girls crying in every other dorm room after learning they weren't "good enough" for their top choice organization. The majority of the time, though, these girls didn't realize the number of other factors that go into decision making and that the online system itself couldn't be 100% trusted.
While I could dive deeper into the construction of this narrative, I think the most effective way to expose the damaging attributes of the sorority recruitment process is to compare it with the fraternity process.
After interviewing a male BU student, who wishes to remain anonymous, about the the fraternal recruitment process, I learned that these two processes are very different.
While sororities and fraternities both require their new members to have at least a 2.5 GPA, a minimum of 12 credits, and to register online, that's where the similarities end.
As a male student on campus interested in joining a fraternity, the process is much more simple. "There is a semi formal process ... After you get the grades, you have to meet with your advisor and go to IFC meetings once a week," said a current member of a BU fraternity.
One must register online, go through an online orientation, and meet with any fraternity of their choice at the designated meeting spot. There are loose themes and rush parties. No dressing up in suits, memorizing talking points, or a formal ranking system. They choose to attend a party and are handed a solo cup and are either sent a bid or not.
I asked the current BU fraternity brother if he was ever persuaded or influenced to make a decision by a fraternity's social media to join and he responded, "Not at all." I also asked if he had felt any social or peer pressure to act or dress a certain way through the recruitment process and he responded, "I never felt pressured. I was how I always was."
While his experience cannot speak for every male student that has gone through BU's Greek Life recruitment process, his answers still hold truth for a majority. His answers also reinforce the apparent dichotomy between fraternities and sororities. It encourages me to question why there is such a stark difference between processes when their goals are the same?
I understand the more formalized process is set in place to manage the large quantity of women interested in recruitment, but why is it that men have a much simpler process and still manage to recruit the same high numbers as female organizations?
Why is it that young women are expected to perform in a week long role, dressed in a costume that is supposed to make them the most attractive candidate? Why is it that young women are then ranked from greatest candidate to worst on properties that often times don't reflect their work ethic, academic standing, or heart?
I'm only hitting the surface of this issue. There is so much to be further explored in this topic of gender in Greek Life at BU. What we can know for sure is that there are sexist discrepancies between the fraternity and sorority recruitment process that reflect a toxic, media bias.
Until next time,
xo
Lex
As the fourth week of the semester comes to a close, so does Greek Life recruitment here on campus.
By now many young men and women have found homes in organizations they have met and got to know here at BU.
While there is always popular buzz surrounding what happens after this process, there's never any focus on the efforts one puts into this trial of peer acceptance.
The recruitment process here on campus is inconsistent between sororities and fraternities.
As someone who has gone through the formal recruitment process, and joined a sorority here on campus, I can speak from my own experiences.
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| Greek Life Wall in Kehr Union |
You must register online, go to orientations and formally meet every single social sorority Bloomsburg has to offer. Through this week long process you are expected to dress up every night (yes there are dress codes) to meet whatever organizations that have invited you back. These organizations are allowed to pick their members on whatever basis of critiques they decide. This could include looks, academic standing, the way you talk, your interests, your confidence, etc.
The process itself is overwhelming. Second floor Luzerne, my freshman year, had girls crying in every other dorm room after learning they weren't "good enough" for their top choice organization. The majority of the time, though, these girls didn't realize the number of other factors that go into decision making and that the online system itself couldn't be 100% trusted.
The problem wasn't that they weren't "good enough" and it wasn't the fault of the sororities or even the online system. The problem lies in how the recruitment process is constructed. How it reinforces media portrayal of the ideal girl. How she looks, the way she talks, and what she's interested in.
The recruitment process is an elaborate show. Sororities pick cute themes that aren't necessarily based on the organization's philanthropy or mission. There are costumes, glitter, songs, and even cheer stunts (I've literally seen human pyramids in the Kehr ballroom on Bid Nights). Recruitment videos highlight superficial details like sisters holding hands or driving their Jeep Wrangler off into the sunset. Social media is also heavily used and influences girls' opinions on not only these organizations and the women in them, but also of themselves. There are Insta-stories encouraging potential new members to wear specific outfits to recruitment. There are orientation meetings that educate girls how to talk to sorority members.
The process educates girls to "be themselves" within a set of guidelines so they remain attractive enough to recruit. It's damaging and perpetuates a culture that focuses purely on the aesthetics of girls.
The process educates girls to "be themselves" within a set of guidelines so they remain attractive enough to recruit. It's damaging and perpetuates a culture that focuses purely on the aesthetics of girls.
While I could dive deeper into the construction of this narrative, I think the most effective way to expose the damaging attributes of the sorority recruitment process is to compare it with the fraternity process.
After interviewing a male BU student, who wishes to remain anonymous, about the the fraternal recruitment process, I learned that these two processes are very different.
While sororities and fraternities both require their new members to have at least a 2.5 GPA, a minimum of 12 credits, and to register online, that's where the similarities end.
As a male student on campus interested in joining a fraternity, the process is much more simple. "There is a semi formal process ... After you get the grades, you have to meet with your advisor and go to IFC meetings once a week," said a current member of a BU fraternity.
One must register online, go through an online orientation, and meet with any fraternity of their choice at the designated meeting spot. There are loose themes and rush parties. No dressing up in suits, memorizing talking points, or a formal ranking system. They choose to attend a party and are handed a solo cup and are either sent a bid or not.
I asked the current BU fraternity brother if he was ever persuaded or influenced to make a decision by a fraternity's social media to join and he responded, "Not at all." I also asked if he had felt any social or peer pressure to act or dress a certain way through the recruitment process and he responded, "I never felt pressured. I was how I always was."
While his experience cannot speak for every male student that has gone through BU's Greek Life recruitment process, his answers still hold truth for a majority. His answers also reinforce the apparent dichotomy between fraternities and sororities. It encourages me to question why there is such a stark difference between processes when their goals are the same?
I understand the more formalized process is set in place to manage the large quantity of women interested in recruitment, but why is it that men have a much simpler process and still manage to recruit the same high numbers as female organizations?
Why is it that young women are expected to perform in a week long role, dressed in a costume that is supposed to make them the most attractive candidate? Why is it that young women are then ranked from greatest candidate to worst on properties that often times don't reflect their work ethic, academic standing, or heart?
I'm only hitting the surface of this issue. There is so much to be further explored in this topic of gender in Greek Life at BU. What we can know for sure is that there are sexist discrepancies between the fraternity and sorority recruitment process that reflect a toxic, media bias.
Until next time,
xo
Lex
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