USA – A recent news article highlighted an author’s findings on America’s sororities (student associations in college for female students). The author, Alexandra Robbins, has written “Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities.” During the 2002-2003 school year, Robbins went undercover as a student at a college she called “State U,” to find out whether the stereotypes that America’s sororities are associated with were true. She also spoke to and visited hundreds of other sorority sisters across the country.

    The author looked into stereotypes, such as binge drinking, drug use, eating disorders and promiscuity. However, because many of the myths turned out to be accurate, she did not identify the university and its two sororities, to protect the identity of the women students who agreed to participate in the book’s research. The students the author chose for her study were smart, friendly girls, representative of the ‘girl next door’.

    After going undercover as ‘just another’ sorority member, the author found that some sororities promote nudity, open sexual relations among women students and sexual relations with men students through parties and functions. There’s frequently a race to get dates from in-demand fraternity (male students’ association) boys. By comparison, the award for getting the highest GPA (academic achievement) in the sororities was easy. The author also found that in the sororities she visited, binge drinking, eating disorders, promiscuity are prevalent enough to be of concern. There are also cases of rapes that go unreported. Cheating on school tests by providing access to previous papers (that are supposed to be inaccessible) for scholastic achievement is also common among sororities.

    The author maintained that she was not anti-sorority, since she feels that a sorority, with proper changes, has great potential to benefit its members. She said that she understands that most girls join sororities simply to belong to a more intimate community. The girls seem to go into them with good intentions. To them, sororities promise to be a group that offers a sense of belonging without needing a specific talent, unlike a singing group or debate team. However, the author felt that on the flip side, acceptance in sororities today is based on looks and wealth.