I was thinking about fraternities today, and I realized something. None of my close guy friends are in a fraternity. When I talk about hanging out with them, other girls (esp. sorority girls) tend to dismiss them as nobodies. I don’t think there’s as much of a stigma for girls on campus who chose not to join a sorority. Why is it that Northwestern puts so much pressure on guys to join a fraternity?
I have also only dated two guys here at Northwestern, and neither one has been in a fraternity. I get the same reaction from these girls. When I mention Eric, or that I’m dating someone, inevitably the first question I get asked is, “Is he in a frat?” Like then they can file him away in a mental hot-or-not box. My boyfriend might as well not exist because he isn’t in a fraternity. It’s an attitude I’ve never understood. Yes, fraternity formals are fun, I’ve been to two of them. But I’m glad that I don’t have to avoid certain fraternities after a bad breakup, or that when I walk into a room, I can be fairly sure that not every single guy has heard stories about my sex life.
I don’t consciously avoid fraternities. I have some good friends in Phi Psi and know some guys in Sig Ep. It’s just worked out that I lived on south campus, and never really ran with the “fraternity crowd”.
|#