The Greek Stereotype
One of my close friends sent me a text today with a screenshot of a Greek-life ranking website describing the sorority I’m in and its “rank” on Tufts campus. According to said website, Chi Omega at Tufts is full of women who “act like they’re better and hotter than most of the campus and… are super obsessed with money, wealth, and appearance, basically aren’t great people once you know them”.
Now, I know better than to get offended by people’s opinions on the internet, but after reading a couple other reviews of the different sororities on campus, it did make me wonder what type of person would take the time to find this ranking website, write entire reviews littered with mean words and harsh stereotypes, and then post it for the world to read—without really understanding what Greek life at Tufts is like, and without getting to know the men and women who participate in it.
I will be the first one to criticize Greek life at Tufts (and anywhere, for that matter). I’m well aware that there are issues with Greek life no matter where you go, and Tufts is no exception. However, I urge Tufts students to avoid making blanket, generalized statements about the individual people involved in the Greek system. People are a lot more than their stereotypes, and its unfair to immediately judge someone because of the sorority of fraternity they are in.
One of the biggest issues I first encountered after joining my sorority was feeling like I was no longer an individual. Suddenly, I went from being just Anna to just “another Chi Omega girl”—at least, that’s what it felt like to me. I felt weird about being grouped in with tons of other girls who were, in reality, so different from me—yet, to websites like this, we were all regarded as the same.
I realize now that my discomfort was not a permanent feeling. Being in a sorority does not define me. It does not take away my uniqueness nor my individuality. It does not make me mean, catty, shallow or trashy. These are wanton descriptors based entirely off of assumptions and generalizations, and I refuse to take on those clichés. Chi Omega is important to me, and I am proud to involved in this community of strong, amazing, unique women.
I understand that not everyone has a positive opinion about Greek life, and I completely respect that. However, I urge those people to voice their opinion in a way that avoids perpetuating stereotypes that are just plain mean.