All For Free
So, as I have mentioned I was in fact a sorority girl in college. Ok, all of your eyes, stop the rolling. It wasn’t so bad. It made my school seem smaller and the friends I went in with, I came out with, I just got to know them better.
I just got done reading Alexandra Robbins NYT bestseller, Pledged. Before I rant and rave about how she barely touched on “normal” sororities(i.e. ones that don’t haze and are at smaller schools) or her characters were so one dimensional I could have given a crap about any of them, I will say what I did like.
I liked that she actually did tell the other side of the story. She touched on a story that I believe closely relates to mine. Just a mention of regular girls wanting to get into a group that made the school smaller, less intimidating and of course there were the friends, boys and beer.
She also revealed some sacred “ritual” handshakes and knocks of some sororities which I found amusing because I always thought that part of it was a bunch of crap. Like I am so going to go up to a random Alpha Phi somewhere and do the freaking “secret” handshake.
The rest of her story revolved around 4 sorority girls that went to “State U” and were in 2 different sororities. She never made me care about them. At all. They were so one dimensional and almost parodies of “typical” SNL sketch sorority girls. It was also filled with all of the sensational stories we have all read about, people dying as a result of hazing. Which I totally understand, it is important to show that side of it but, of course every other chapter was about hazing. She had to fill up the space with this I think because the rest of it was such shit.
I realize everyone’s experience is different but I have never heard from any of my friends who were in other sororities at different schools that they were hazed. Never. They would certainly tell me. I mean none of us took it that seriously. I wouldn’t have joined a sorority if they hazed me. F that. I am not risking my life for boys and beer, thanks anyway.
Her stories about the 4 young women were barely readable. No depth to these girls at all. They were real people, I don’t care if they were idiots, even idiots can be interesting because they are human.
She talked about how sororities would only let in women who were good looking and had designer clothes. I’m sorry but that is such utter crap. Maybe one sorority at a private university did that somewhere but I can assure you, it is not a majority. That is virtually impossible in college. Most schools that you go to now have normal poor ass college students, like myself, that paid my rent and dues through a side job. There wasn’t anyone at my school buying Gucci. The looks factor is even more ridiculous. There were girls in every sorority that weren’t considered good looking. You know why? They were people we liked and wanted to hang out with. We weren’t superficial monsters like this Robbins chick makes us out to be.
Robbins could argue that this was my experience and that isn’t what her book was about. I feel like her book is the same book and story that has been told over and over again. Sororities suck, they are detrimental to the girls in them, blah, blah. Well, sure, if you go to one school in Texas where sororities are these people’s lives. What about the good experiences? The positive ones? Ones that involved real people and real friendships that continue long past your college years?
I don’t have one regret in joining Alpha Phi. It was a great experience. It helped me feel a part of something when I was just kind of floating around not sure which direction to go. It was so much damn fun and I met some wonderful people. Friends that I cherish to this day. Jason jokingly once said to me “Yes, I know you were in a sorority and I am willing to overlook that”. That’s ok, I am willing to overlook his acid flashbacks and that skank he dated so I guess we’re even.
Chase Says:
You say ‘acid flashbacks’ like it’s a bad thing.
I never was in a sorority and didn’t know anyone who was, so I can’t comment on that. But if it attests to the fact that you’re a big dirty ho now, then, sure…they’re a good thing!
Mr. Fabulous Says:
Sorority girl, eh? LOL
I have nothing against sorority girls, but man, those are the worst blood drives to be on. Twice a year we have a big Greek competition at UF where all the houses compete, and a lot of the girls would not normally donate but they get talked into it by their sisters. My God, the crying, the fainting…yikes!
SO much drama!
Ananke Says:
OK, now when the pervs look up “sorority spankings,” they’ll find your blog, too.
Webmiztris Says:
acid flashbacks? lmao!
hazing is crazy. I can’t imagine wanting to join ANYTHING badly enough that I’d allow that to happen.
3rdtimesacharm( 3T ) Says:
Having never been part of the whole college/sorority/fraternity scene, I found this interesting Deb! Although not one to pick up a book about sororities, I’d love more stories about your experience in them.
Hope your 4th of July has been enjoyable and relaxing.
3T
jane Says:
I’m glad you reviewed this book, its one I’ve considered reading. I think it’s cool that you were a sorority girl! If anybody rolls their eyes, it’s cuz they’re jealous & I’ll admit it….I’m jealous! (but no eyeroll, lol)
I am reading The Good Good Pig and omgosh so far is so endearing. Really gives a good sense of pigs. Yeah, I know, I’m wacky in that area.
I think a secret knock would be so cool.
Deb_LA Says:
Mr Fab-yeah the blood drives were “mandatory” at my school for sororities. Unfortch, I was ALWAYS anemic in high school and college so I never was allowed to give it. Luckily, after college I started eating red meat again…now I gots all the iron I needs!
And yes,us, sorority chicks are a dramatic bunch.
Dawn-I joke about actual flashbacks but he went to Penn State-Mont Alto(I think more bumfuck than you are)so they did ALOT of drugs in college to pass the time…
Deb_LA Says:
Chase-yes, the sorority made me a big dirty ho…ha ha, slutbag.
Ananke-Yippee! Sorority Spankings for all!
3T-Oh, don’t worry, they’ll be more stories about my sorority girl days…there are some fun ones!
Jane-It was a great experience. I think I would have regretted it if I hadn’t tried it. I was in with the theater major crowd my freshman year and they were just not the people I fit in with. So the sorority hooked me up with people I did fit in with and were like me…
I want to read that book! I love your stories about Cheetah!