Inside Greek U. (eBook)

One in ten American college students joins a fraternity or sorority, and Greek social organizations produce a disproportionately large percentage of power brokers in business and politics. Statistics show that while these future leaders are on campus, they are much more likely than non-Greek students to engage in binge drinking and to be either the perpetrators or victims of sexual assault. In Inside Greek U., Alan D. DeSantis takes an in-depth look at the lessons that Greek organizations teach their members about gender, drawing on evidence gathered in hundreds of focus-group sessions and personal interviews and from his years of experience as a Greek faculty advisor. Inside Greek U reveals a Greek culture that imbues its members with the sense that "real men" must be unemotional, promiscuous, violent, and aggressively masculine, while "nice girls" should be nurturing, passive, domestic, and purely feminine. These rigid formulations contribute to maladaptive behaviors and beliefs, such as eating disorders, body image distortions, homophobia, and date rape and other sexual misconduct. Inside Greek U. aims to reform the Greek system rather than tear it down or sanction contempt for its members. DeSantis identifies narrow definitions of gender that impede Greek students' intellectual and emotional development and seeks to broaden these definitions, thereby expanding the range of acceptable choices available to fraternity and sorority members before and after graduation.

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This study examines the potentially damaging influence of fraternities and sororities-and how a new approach could transform Greek life.Popular films such as Revenge of the Nerds and Old School portray college Greek organizations as a training ground for malevolent young aristocrats, yet they fail to depict the enduring influence of these organizations. Inside Greek U. provides an in-depth analysis of how fraternities and sororities bolster damaging definitions of gender and sexuality, negatively impacting the lives of their members.Using evidence gathered in hundreds of focus groups and personal interviews, as well as his years of experience as a faculty advisor to Greek organizations, Alan D. DeSantis examines the limited gender roles available to Greeks: "e;real men"e; are unemotional, sexually promiscuous, and violent; "e;nice girls,"e; are nurturing, domestic, and pure. These rigid formulations often lead to destructive attitudes and behaviors, such as eating disorders, date rape, sexual misconduct, and homophobia. They also impede students' intellectual and emotional development long after graduation.While many students choose Greek life in search of positive social engagement, the current culture can be profoundly damaging. Inside Greek U. demonstrates how, with a new approach, fraternities and sororities could serve as an enriching influence on individuals and campus life.