Why Rush?

We recently started Junior Theme in my American Studies class. Junior Theme is a research paper where we create an argument that responds to a current issue. I began Junior Theme with the broad topic of sororities. I have since changed my topic to the current issue of hazing. However, sororities is still an interesting topic to me. I was reading the book Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities by Alexandra Robbins and it made me wonder why girls join sororities.

Often you hear of the insane activities that occur to girls in sororities. I mean its around a hundred girls living in one house. That's insane! I myself have desired to join a sorority before. It just seemed like it was part of the college experience. However, sororities are known to have problems with binge drinking, eating disorders, drugs, and sexual assaults. That doesn't change the fact that hundreds of girls each year rush in the fall in order to be a part of a sorority. Why?


For me, I wanted to join a sorority because its a new family. There all "sisters" after all. You have a  group of friends already made for you. And as sororities often house girls that are much the same you are bound to get along with some. There is also the "cool" perk. Greek houses often times lead the party scene. If you are Greek, then you are then cool. There are also "cool" sororities and not as cool sororities. To be chosen for the top sorority would be a high honor. Some girls, like Brooke from Pledged, have sororities ingrained into society. In high school Brooke couldn't wait to get to college to rush and become an Eta Gamma. Once she was a part of the sorority, the reputation helped her even when she was far away from the campus grounds. "Even decades after you graduate, you're only accepted or not by what sorority you were in" (118). Brooke has found that her status as an EtaGam helped her slip into high social circles because it was a "top" sorority. Being able to take advantage of such a thing would be very useful in later life.

I also think that a large part of why girls join sororities is because of how they are portrayed in the media. Even when they are being condemned there is a hint that you should be one of them. Movies and shows often describe the sorority girls as "mean girls", yet still you find yourself wishing you were with that crowd. They were cool, everyone wanted to be there friend! Sure, they were mean, but not all of them were like that! To be a part of an elite and exclusive group would be a dream come true. You were specially picked out of hundreds because you were exactly what that elite group wanted. Who wouldn't want that honor?