Student at the University of Pennsylvania are reflecting on “going greek” and not all their reflections are positive. According to a recent publication by the Daily Pennsylvanian, students find it to be costly and wrongly enforcing gender roles.
Two sophomores discussed their main concerns, in addition to the conveniences they experience at their respective Greek organizations.
Engineering major Alex Nichols admitted that taking part in her sorority can become “cost-prohibitive.” After all, shopping for rush, attending events, and paying for overnight trips and functions all add up.
“If you don’t have as much money to do all those things, you can feel not as included,” Nichols stated.
Pi Kappa Alpha member Viruj Memon also holds a dispiriting view of Greek life — including the power structure within Greek organizations.
“I think fraternities depend inherently on social hierarchy. It’s not like it’s intentional, it just happens,” Menon stated. “Fraternities overemphasize very conventional heteronormative masculinity,” Menon proclaimed.
This sort of food chain perception of Greek organizations is far from uncommon; in fact, it is even stereotyped. However, it’s hard to believe an Ivy-league student in his second year at UPenn is surprised of the typical virility present in fraternal organizations.
Heteronormativity, as defined by the online magazine Everyday Feminism, is “a system that works to normalize behaviors and societal expectations that are tied to the presumption of heterosexuality and an adherence to a strict gender binary.”
They define gender binary as “a term used to describe the practice of only recognizing two distinct genders.”
While there are co-ed and vocational oriented Greek organizations, it is quite obvious that the vast majority of fraternities and sororities would reinforce male and female differences.
Upcoming freshmen who are considering to pledge should not be wary of heteronormative masculinity. Likewise, the fraternities at UPenn should not use such terms as warning signs or virtue signals. Unbeknownst to Menon, typical college socialites aren’t particularly focused on vapid, progressive hysteria, but instead on simply having an enjoyable time. Otherwise, there’s no point in institutions having single-sex membership, social organizations on campus to begin with.
If students are looking for one monotonous, agender, and unscientific social group, simply attending the university should do the trick.
