Don't Judge a Book.....

At the start of my 2nd semester at Butler, I decided to go through the process of formal recruitment and pledge a sorority.  After a stressful, nerve-racking, and insanely fun week, I received a bid from Delta Gamma and couldn't have been happier!

I'm sure many of you have stereotypes in your head about sorority girls, and if you know me you know I don't really fit the stereotype.  However, neither do any of the girls at Butler.  

Or so I thought.

After recruitment was over I was so excited to be a part of greek life on campus.  I had this idea in my head that everyone in all the houses were still friends, and didn't care about the names on the outside of the beautiful greek row mansions as much as the personalities of the women on the inside.  That everyone was simply in a different house because they felt at home there for different reasons.  This was the case for me anyway. 

Through the initiation process I have come to find however that there really are pretty harsh stereotypes for each house, and just by being associated with 2 or 3 greek letters you might have a black mark across your forehead.

Do you think that's right?

I don't.  & I'm not okay with it either.  People I've never even met, don't even know their names, scowl at me and my sisters when we go out.  & the things they are saying about us aren't very nice either.

(Just a disclaimer, yes I understand EVERYONE has done this at some point or another, & yes I know I'm guilty too.)

But what's the point of passing this judgement on other girls, who in theory have more in common with you than not.  We did all go through the same recruitment process with the same intentions of affiliating with the Greek community.

I personally think the HEINOUS comments posted to sites such as College ACB about which song represents each house 

(DG's was "I just had sex" by The Lonely Island if that tells you anything about the stereotype we're up against) 

or a rank of all the houses based on the "hotness" of their pledge class,

do nothing but create pointless drama and gossip between we Greek women.

Not only that, but when we are all up against stereotypes, anytime someone slips up it gives "proof" or satisfaction to the ones spreading the gossip.  & then the stereotype monstrosity comes full circle & guess what?

NOBODY WINS.

Just like any time you gossip, it might feel awesome at the time, but as soon as someone hears you that shouldn't, or they get dirt on you, 

You. Feel. Like. Crap.

So here's what I'm thinking:

If we all stop trash talking our fellow Greek women, & stop spreading rumors creating stereotypes, we can have more fun, make more friends, and show the non-greek community that Butler's greek life really is different.

Plus, my mom always said the only reason you gossip about someone else is because you are jealous of something they have.  

I know I absolutely made the right decision pledging Delta Gamma, and I hope all of my sisters and fellow Greek women can say the same about their choices.  So don't give anyone a reason to think you aren't where you want to be, because we are the ones with the power to eliminate these stereotypes with our words and actions.