Over the weekend I was thinking about romantic relationships and it occurred to me how different fraternity and sorority relationships are different from non-Greek relationships. I am by no means a relationship expert, but it seems odd to me that membership in an organization weighs so heavily on our decision to date someone or for them to date us.
I am now in a great relationship with a man that is a member of a fraternity, but it wasn't too long ago that I was dating. There were some guys that I talked to that were appalled that I am a sorority woman. These guys were not Greek and it confused me like no other. The moment I told them I was Greek, they immediately created a opinion of me. I am not innocent either in that I formed an opinion of them. I have had such a positive Greek experience that I could not understand why someone would dislike fraternities and sororities so much without having firsthand knowledge of what is entailed.
It is strange how our fraternity and sorority experience promotes inter-Greek relationships so much through exchanges, formals, parties, and date dashes. Media has even created this notion that if you are a sorority woman you do not get the full experience unless you date a fraternity man and vice versa. I have friends that say that there is no way they could be with a man who is not Greek. I also have friends that absolutely do not want to be with a fraternity man in any shape, form, or fashion.
Where do you fall? Are you in a Greek relationship or a non-Greek relationship?
This is a really awesome post. Anyone in a Greek relationship should definitely read it :)
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I was in a Greek relationship for almost a year... When it ended it made it difficult to be around members of his fraternity. Sometimes in Greek life it's almost as if you're dating the whole fraternity when you date one member and you almost have to pick favorites. I don't know what will happen in my future but I can tell you it's difficult to date within Greek life. However, my aunt and uncles all met in Greek life and are happily married if that say something!
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My current boyfriend and I are both Greek alum and we started dating in college. My freshman year of college I did date a non-Greek and it was very hard. He couldn't understand the time commitment to my sorority, nor why I wanted to spend time with them period. Needless to say, that didn't last long. Sometimes relationships started in high school, don't transition well to college based on the choices one makes for them self. I am very happy in my current relationship though and know that the mutual understanding of both being Greek has led to shared values, understanding time commitments, and inspiring choices for how we volunteer our time and give back now that we're alum (to our houses - though different chapters, our philanthropy(s) and our value of service period).
ReplyDeleteIt is really difficult when one party doesn't under the commitment you made to your organization. I'm glad you have found someone to share the values of being Greek with so you both have a beneficial alumni experience!
DeleteI'm a freshman in college and am currently in a Greek relationship with a guy I've known for five years, but only started dating in college. I have to say that having him go greek as well certainly makes things easier for me, because we both understand the time commitment and were there for each other during recruitment and the pledging process (although that was more the fraternity pledging than my own pledging). I personally cannot imagine having been able to handle my first semester--adjusting to college, greek life ect.--without having someone who was going through the same thing by my side.
ReplyDeleteI'm currently in a Greek Relationship (though we were together web we went Greek, so that's a little different than most). It's a long distance relationship and we're both well known by eachother's chapters. There is a chapter of his fraternity at my university and I always feel welcome in their house as opposed to the others. It's also awesome to know the boys. When I'm at a party they always watch out for me because they know I'm a "Sig Girl." It's nice to have that unspoken love from these boys because of their brotherhood with my boyfriend.
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