Sorority Rituals - Reflections On Rites of ... - Mari Ann Callais

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of literature is information to clarify how sororities evolved and to explain the role of rituals in sororities. Another component of this study is the period of adolescence and the process of development from adolescence to adulthood, involving multiple dimensions. This is important to consider due to the nature of sororities and the time frame in which most young women become a part of these groups. Although some campuses may have seen a slight increase in non-traditional students becoming involved in extracurricular activities, sorority women, in most cases, continue to be between the ages of 18-22. Women’s development will be addressed in chapter three of this study. Contribution of the Study to the Body of Research Throughout my research, I found that while scholars and practitioners have investigated hazing (Nuwer, 1999), alcohol use, peer pressure, and psychosocial development (Pascarella, Edison, Whitt, Nora, Hagedorn & Terenzini, 1996) as they relate to sorority culture, but none have investigated the relationship between sorority ritual and individuals’ values and behaviors. Are these organizations and their members simply “going through the motions?” Do those participating in ritual ceremonies believe that ritual can be applicable in their daily lives as contemporary women? What is the relationship of ritual and how is it developed through these organizations? If those working with sororities, whether student affairs professionals, sorority national staff, or volunteer national officers and advisors, are going to make purposeful changes to the sorority experience as a whole, they must clearly understand the impact that the undergraduate sorority experience has on these women. The intent of this study has been to provide information that will begin to establish a better understanding of how sorority rituals can be utilized today and beyond. 16
The lack of information concerning sororities is due in part to the fact that the National Panhellenic Conference requires that anyone who would like to involve undergraduate members of the 26 NPC sororities in a study must have that study approved by the NPC Research Committee. This process evolved in part due to the concern by NPC that researchers would primarily seek or report only the negative aspects of sorority life and would not provide accurate findings because of the negative publicity that sororities receive often times in conjunction with fraternity references. This requirement establishes yet another factor that may deter researchers from studying sororities if they have to do so within the guidelines of NPC. My intent was to follow the guidelines as established by the NPC process and yet to stay true to my objectives as a researcher. My intent was to create a foundation of literature and to conduct a study that would provide future opportunities for research concerning sororities and that in doing so, that the dialogue for future studies could be encouraged in cooperation with NPC. The results of this study were in no way censored by the researcher, the NPC Research Committee, or the individual national sororities. To overcome the challenges of lack of scholarly research and approval by the NPC Research Committee, I had to pursue alternate methods of obtaining information. I spent a great deal of time speaking with various national officers, ritual specialists, and older women who have been involved with sororities since the 1930s and 1940s. The national sororities were assured that their right of secrecy would not be threatened by the research. This has allowed the rituals to be studied in concept rather than in actual action. Other sources of information, including sororities' national magazines, history books, and workshops, were used in order to present a historical perspective of their organizations. By going beyond the basic research methods in this manner, it is hoped that this study will provide a context for 17
Page 1 and 2: SORORITY RITUALS: RITES OF PASSAGE
Page 3 and 4: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am very grateful
Page 5 and 6: for teaching me that a group of peo
Page 7 and 8: TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ......
Page 9 and 10: CHAPTER V: SUMMARY, DISCUSSION, REC
Page 11 and 12: CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Each year th
Page 13 and 14: The member groups of the National P
Page 15 and 16: hopes of the founders rather than t
Page 17 and 18: ceremony is complete, that person i
Page 19 and 20: 80,000 women join sororities. On mo
Page 21 and 22: issues, and topics …that formerly
Page 23 and 24: when do we use it? How do we use it
Page 25: the sorority experience has on the
Page 29 and 30: of the NPC member groups, and to co
Page 31 and 32: CHAPTER II REVIEW OF LITERATURE Thi
Page 33 and 34: Ritual Ceremonies and Symbolism in
Page 35 and 36: Robson writes further: In a world c
Page 37 and 38: strengthened by encountering differ
Page 39 and 40: student initiated and created to au
Page 41 and 42: Gradually, however, they took over
Page 43 and 44: Following the founding of Kappa Alp
Page 45 and 46: efer to themselves as "service" org
Page 47 and 48: Alpha Xi Delta Fraternity Lombard C
Page 49 and 50: What Is Ritual? In order to explain
Page 51 and 52: theorist/researcher in the area of
Page 53 and 54: Ritual as a Rite of Passage Underst
Page 55 and 56: we are and giving meaning to us wit
Page 57 and 58: am I? Well, as I see it, I am a per
Page 59 and 60: Value Congruence Research conducted
Page 61 and 62: the majority of authors . . . have
Page 63 and 64: To better understand Gilligan’s F
Page 65 and 66: only women, all with varying opinio
Page 67 and 68: member transitions to a leader/role
Page 69 and 70: development. The isolation period a
Page 71 and 72: Gilligan’s point that sex differe
Page 73 and 74: undergraduate members. Understandin
Page 75 and 76: not an option. Actual observance of
Page 77 and 78:
Role of the NPC Research Committee
Page 79 and 80:
the chapters were part of large nat
Page 81 and 82:
where I was able to travel based up
Page 83 and 84:
a whole. I piloted the interview qu
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These categories were reflective of
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participated in my sorority ritual,
Page 89 and 90:
sorority women was a cognitive asse
Page 91 and 92:
In addition, only one participant w
Page 93 and 94:
school. Sixteen (31%) sophomore par
Page 95 and 96:
itual among themselves outside of t
Page 97 and 98:
was founded in 1978. Their average
Page 99 and 100:
chapters ranging in size from 150 t
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participants’ feelings about the
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A few of the participants expressed
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Several of the participants related
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One of the participants explained w
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During new member education, you le
Page 111 and 112:
Women’s Development within the So
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Comments from several of the partic
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When I first joined my sorority, I
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the participants referred to other
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I think that ritual has made me a b
Page 121 and 122:
The reasons that the participants g
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This study included both private an
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internal value system or they know
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sorority women’s length of member
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when an 18-year old woman joins a s
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ehavior of sorority women, it must
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* The level of responsibility and /
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to evaluate sorority women and the
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they are and what role ritual has i
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numbers vary from chapter to chapte
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that those ceremonies can bring to
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Butler, E. R. (1990). Initiations r
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Kuh, G. D., & Arnold, J. C. (1992).
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Pennington, D., Zvonkovic, A. C., W
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Taylor, S.E., Peplau, L.A., C Sears
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APPENDIX A CONSENT FORM 141
Page 153 and 154:
APPENDIX B PROFILE QUESTIONS 143
Page 155 and 156:
APPENDIX C INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 145
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general? What would you say that th
Page 159 and 160:
APPENDIX D (LETTER TO THE GREEK ADV
Page 161 and 162:
APPENDIX E NATIONAL PANHELLENIC CON
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six months doing literature researc
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common knowledge similarities--the
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Correspondence II To: Shelia Barnes
Page 169 and 170:
I truly appreciate your guidance an
Page 171 and 172:
Application for Exemption from IRB
Page 173 and 174:
VITA Mari Ann Callais was born in 1
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