Not too long ago, Catie wrote something titled "47 Confessions from a REAL sorority girl". After reading what she wrote, I was left with very mixed feelings. There were some things that I think she was spot on about, although there were also others that were judgmental and didn't truly reflect what either sisterhood or Greek life is all about. So now I would like to go through and express my opinions on her 47 opinions.
1: "I haven't worn a bow in my hair since I was seven." My first instinct is to wonder if she's worn a bow in other places, but that is neither here nor there. I have never thought that bows were associated with sorority life. I really don't know where she has heard of this stigma or why she felt it necessary to add it to this list, other than to say there are 47 points. Also, a couple of women in my sorority DO where bows. It's because they are very into cheerleading and extremely passionate about it. These women are also some of the best leaders in the chapter. Perhaps bows should be more commonplace.
2: "I wear Lilly Pulitzer, but I don't like Jack Rogers so I don't own a pair." Not every sorority girl in the world owns Lilly Pulitzer. Although, I will admit that the vast majority do. That same majority probably own Jack Rogers, also. It doesn't make them any more or less "real" just because of what they wear.
3: "My dad doesn't own a yacht." More on the topic of dads later, but does your mom own a yacht? Do either own a boat? Even if they did, it doesn't distinguish if you are or are not a sorority girl.
4: "Or a jet." Again, does your mom own a jet? I know one person that owns a jet (at least that I know of, for a fact). I do not know if this person was Greek in college and it doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is that they are extremely happy and obviously do pretty well for his/herself.
5: "Or a Lamborghini." I still think some of these points could have been thrown together to more like 30 confessions, instead of 47.
6: "He is not the CEO of a Fortune 500 company." While it is a stigma that daddy pays for most of his daughter's education and Greek life experience, it is actually not that common. There are many women in my sorority that paid their own way and didn't rely on their parents for anything. Even then, would they be any less "real" if they paid their own way and their dad DID work for a Fortune 500?
7: "My family doesn't live on a plantation." Not many people do anymore, but I wouldn't be surprised if you went to the south and found a sorority girl that does.
8: "I actually studied at the library." It is common for Greek women to be found in the library. The majority of the chapters place a high emphasis on education. After all, it is why you are supposed to go to college in the first place. It is also very prestigious to be known as the chapter with the highest GPA.
9: "I didn't pursue a MRS. degree." I would be highly, highly surprised if this was ever offered, but it still made me laugh.
10: "I've never said 'Bless your heart', because I don't believe in being passive aggressive. A simple "screw you" works much better." You aren't from the south. People in the south don't use it just as a means to say "screw you", either. Also, after going through your Twitter feed, I am much inclined to think that you are highly passive aggressive. Lastly, saying "screw you" to someone is fairly immature. There are better ways to get the point across that you don't agree.
11: "I have a pearl necklace that my grandmother gave me, but I prefer to wear costume jewelry." I know several highly involved women in my chapter that wear pearls on a daily basis. It doesn't make them any more of a real Greek than wearing costume jewelry does.
12: "I don't wear makeup at the gym." I don't know why anyone would wear makeup to go to the gym. I personally only go for myself.
13: "I don't even always wear makeup at work." Neither do I.
14: "I'm currently rocking my natural hair color." Have you always? I know more non-Greek women that dye their hair than I do those affiliated with a chapter.
15: "Not using condoms is stupid. I use them. You should too." What if you are allergic to latex? Ha. I do completely agree with this point, though.
16: "If the man in my life ever told me to "make him a sandwich," I would find a new man." Point A - MEN do not speak to women this way. Point B - If he is telling you to 'make him a sandwich', chances are he was already planning on leaving since there would be another man in the room with you, unless, of course, he said 'make me a sandwich'.
17: "I'm not always classy and I'd be willing to bet that you're not either." Most people aren't classy at all times in their day, but I'd also be willing to bet that you had more than your fair share of standards meetings.
18: "Slut shaming is stupid. I think that as a society we should stop doing it." We shouldn't shame, period. Everyone is free to live their life how they choose to do so.
19: "My father is "Dad", not "Daddy". So this is how you prefer to refer to your father. That doesn't mean that someone that refers to theirs as "daddy" is Greek.
20: "I've been wearing New Balance 993s my whole life, but it doesn't bother me if the only reason you wear them now is because you're Greek. They're awesome tennis shoes." I do not own these and do not know a single member of Greek life that does.
21: "I would consider myself a moderate Republican. Anything too extreme is dangerous." If you truly believe that anything too extreme is dangerous, than you probably aren't like the majority of Greek women I know. The women I know are willing to push the envelope to get what they want, set high goals, and work until they obtain said goals. They also are not afraid of a challenge.
22: "Sometimes I simply refer to my sorority sisters as my friends. That's okay." Yes, that is okay. However, most people prefer to call them sisters because sisterhood is a bond that cannot be broken. Friendship can be.
23: "I've bought my own drink at a bar." You and probably 99.9% of the rest of the women in this world.
24: "I say 'like', and 'whatever', and 'k', and 'literally' entirely too often, but there are worse habits to have." There are worse habits to have. Although, if you use the aforementioned words too often, most people will think you are not capable of having an adult conversation or portraying your ideas.
25: "I've been known to smoke on occasion. I know it's bad, but there is no need for you to shout it at me from across the street." Yet again, it's your own decision. Although, chances are, those shouting at you do it because they care about you.
26: "I volunteer because I want to, not because I have to." Thank you.
27: "Reading is one of my favorite pastimes; Netflix binges are pretty great, too." Cannot disagree on either.
28: "I make bad decisions. Don't judge me for mine and I won't judge you for yours. Deal?" Everyone makes bad decisions. It's how we respond to those decisions that determine the judgment.
29: "Sometimes I fly Coach." Well, good for you. I prefer to fly Coach because then I have more money that I can devote to the location versus the trip there.
30: "I don't own a Louis Vuitton bag." Do you own any designer bag? Perhaps that chapter member that has one decided to save up her own money to buy one for herself, instead of it being handed to her.
31: "I have really great friends outside of my sorority." So do the majority of Greek women.
32: "I don't understand sports and I don't pretend to." That is your personal preference. It doesn't mean you're a more real sorority girl because of it.
33: "My Sperrys haven't been worn in about two years." Since you like volunteering, maybe you should donate your Sperrys to someone that will actually want to wear them and appreciate them.
34: Seersucker is great if it's worn in moderation." I will just have to flat out disagree.
35: "Not everything I own is monogrammed." There are people in this world that absolutely love the monogram. Then there are people like me that would rather not have the world know what my initials are.
36: "I drive a foreign car." I don't. What's your point and did you buy the car yourself?
37: "I don't have a house in Vail or a penthouse in Manhattan." Personally, I think it's silly to want a house in Vail, IA and I really don't think there are many penthouses available in Manhattan, KS.
38: "I think that a higher power blessed everyone, not just people in the south." I think some people were skipped over, but that's just my personal opinion.
39: "Confederate flags don't offend me, but I respect that not everyone feels that way." Kudos.
40: "Marilyn Monroe is not my idol." One of the best women in my collegiate chapter adored Marilyn Monroe. I would also say that this member is one of the realest and most devoted members that graced this sorority.
41: "Neither is Jackie Kennedy." Although, she is an excellent role model.
42: "I'm not a size zero." Size means nothing. Someone can be a size zero and be exceptional. So can someone who is a 12, etc.
43: "I don't have "daddy issues"." Yet you sure mention him an awful lot in your post, but never once mention your mother. I personally am much closer to my father instead of my mother and I am grateful for the help he has given me. However, I think the fact of the matter is that you might be in denial.
44: "I think women should be strong and independent." I completely agree. Although, there are times when that means that you do ask for help and that you are not known to everyone around you as the bitch of the group.
45: "Not everyone in my sorority looks the same." That's probably because not everyone in the world looks the same. Everyone has their own identity.
46: "I take photos without 'throwing what I know'." Every Greek woman I know has pictures that are not just of this. Even if they do have pictures, it doesn't mean that they are less, it means that they are proud of the organization that they are a part of. They value the sisterhood and the bond that they have and they also wouldn't report another chapter member just because she got engaged.
47: "I didn't get married after college. I got a job." Is it a bad thing if someone gets married right after college? Are you jealous of them for doing so? Wouldn't you want someone to be happy? I know several women that got married AND got a job right after college. It doesn't mean they aren't real, it means they are wholesome people that not only did a man decide he wants to spend his whole life with, but a company decided that she would be the best person to lead them into the future.
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