Sorority Rituals - Reflections On Rites of ... - Mari Ann Callais
Sorority Rituals - Reflections On Rites of ... - Mari Ann Callais
Sorority Rituals - Reflections On Rites of ... - Mari Ann Callais
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comprised <strong>of</strong> four NPC chapters with an average chapter size <strong>of</strong> 55 to 70 members and began in<br />
1959. The sororities are comprised generally <strong>of</strong> women who are involved in a myriad <strong>of</strong> other<br />
activities as well. Sororities do not have houses and the chapters operate from a small <strong>of</strong>fice in<br />
the student union.<br />
Findings<br />
Presented in this section are the findings <strong>of</strong> this study. The participants’ shared<br />
experiences, thoughts, attitudes, and feelings regarding ritual and its meaning in their lives and in<br />
the lives <strong>of</strong> the members <strong>of</strong> their sorority. The data from the interviews are separated into<br />
categories <strong>of</strong> responses. The interview guide was designed to understand the participants’<br />
understandings, thoughts, and feelings concerning the ritual ceremonies. Responses are presented<br />
in their words.<br />
As indicated in Chapter III, two sources <strong>of</strong> data were used in the study: a structured<br />
interview and the Undergraduate <strong>Sorority</strong> Member Pr<strong>of</strong>ile Questionnaire (USMPQ) (Appendix<br />
B). Responses to the interview questions by the participants provided their perceptions <strong>of</strong> the role<br />
<strong>of</strong> the ritual ceremonies in their sorority experiences. The demographic information from the<br />
questionnaire provided general background information <strong>of</strong> the participants as well as the general<br />
involvement information. Through data analysis, three major themes emerged: (a) the sorority<br />
women’s beliefs and values, (b) the sorority women’s perception <strong>of</strong> ritual, and (c) the sorority<br />
women’s development within the sorority experience. The three major themes are discussed in<br />
the following sections.<br />
<strong>Sorority</strong> Women’s Beliefs and Values<br />
The first major theme captured the participants’ perception regarding their beliefs and<br />
values, as well as the impact, if any, that ritual has on them. Two primary components framed the<br />
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