Sororities in America
Sororities in America are social organizations specifically for women, offering a range of educational, community, and social opportunities during and after their college years. Members, known as sisters, join these organizations through a pledging process, which involves recruitment events commonly referred to as "rush." Sororities are identified by Greek letters, similar to their male counterparts, fraternities. The National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) oversees many of these organizations, with over 5.6 million women initiated globally as of 2024. Sororities are known for their philanthropic efforts, donating millions to charitable causes and providing scholarships, while also encouraging community service among their members.
The history of sororities dates back to the mid-19th century, with the establishment of the first women’s fraternity, Alpha Delta Pi, in 1851, and the subsequent formation of the first national sorority, Pi Beta Phi, in 1867. Over time, the American sorority system evolved, and notable organizations like Alpha Kappa Alpha emerged as the first Greek organization for African-American women. Despite their benefits, sororities face challenges such as hazing and substance abuse, prompting many to implement risk management and education initiatives. Current and former members often discuss the advantages of networking and mentorship against the backdrop of potential costs, time commitments, and societal perceptions surrounding membership.
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Subject Terms
Sororities in America
Sororities are social organizations for college women. Students who pledge to a sorority, which like the male equivalent of a fraternity is known by its Greek letter designations, become sisters of that sorority. These organizations provide educational, community, and social opportunities for women during their college years and afterward. According to the National Panhellenic Conference (NPC), over 4.1 million women around the world were initiated as members of a sorority as of 2009. Every year, NPC members and alumnae in both national and international chapters donate more than $5 million to charitable causes, award $2.8 million in scholarships, and volunteer millions of hours in their communities.
Overview
The first fraternity for women was the Adelphean Society, later known as Alpha Delta Pi, which was established at Wesleyan College in 1851. In 1867 Pi Beta Phi became the first organization of college women established as a national college fraternity. By the 1870s, many literary societies began to spring up at other women’s colleges; they were advised by professors or other college officials and these societies became the foundation of the American sorority system.
In 1882 a Latin professor who advised the Gamma Phi Beta woman’s fraternity called his group a sorority, inventing a new term he thought more fitting for a group of young ladies. Alpha Omicron Pi, founded at Barnard College in New York City in 1897, is the largest international sorority, and Alpha Kappa Alpha, founded at Howard University in 1908 was the first Greek organization created for African-American women. The National Panhellenic Conference was organized in 1902 with the mission of encouraging an interfraternal spirit among its members, establishing better relations with other organizations, and providing service to member chapters.
Generally, sororities recruit new members by holding a pledge week during which sisters meet and interview potential new members. As this “rush” of candidates progresses, the sororities list their choices of members in order of preference and the rushes receive invitations to the next round. When a rushee accepts a sorority bid, she becomes a pledge. Because pledging has sometimes been associated with hazing and other negative rituals, many sororities refer to pledging as new member education. Hazing and substance abuse are two of the biggest issues facing modern fraternities and sororities. Hazing usually involves humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning pledges as part of a sorority’s or fraternity’s initiation rites. Hazing can include sisters yelling at or otherwise verbally intimidating pledges, forcing them to wear embarrassing items in public, compelling them to eat or drink unpleasant substances, and making them binge drink or engage in unwanted sexual activities. Many sororities participate in risk management programs and education events to address these issues.
Current and former sorority members articulate the pros and cons of sorority membership. Pros include a wealth of mentors, resources, and social connections. Cons include costs of events and membership fees, stereotyping of members, the investment of time required, and what some believe are undemocratic practices.
Bibliography
Brown, Tamara L., Gregory S. Parks, and Clarenda M. Phillips, eds. African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision. Lexington: UP of Kentucky, 2005. Print.
Klimczuk, Stephne, and Gerald Warner. Secret Places, Hidden Sanctuaries: Uncovering Mysterious Sites, Symbols, and Societies. New York: Sterling, 2009. Print.
Little Things Collectible. Everything to Know about AKA: An Unlicensed Historical Fact Book of Alpha Kappa Alpha. Washington: Howard U, 2012. Print.
Nuwer, Hank. Wrongs of Passage: Fraternities, Sororities, Hazing, and Binge Drinking. Bloomington: Indiana UP, 1999. Print.
Robbins, Alexandra. Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities. New York: Hyperion, 2005. Print.
Ross, Lawrence C., Jr. The Divine Nine: The History of African American Fraternities and Sororities. New York: Kensington, 2001. Print.
Turk, Diana B. Bound by a Mighty Vow: Sisterhood and Women’s Fraternities, 1870–1920. Albany: State U of New York P, 2004. Print.
Whaley, Deborah Elizabeth. Disciplining Women: Alpha Kappa Alpha, Black Counterpublics, and the Cultural Politics of Black Sororities. Albany: State U of New York P, 2010. Print.