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

understanding sororities. I believe that this research will ultimately change the way sororities
educate their members and enhance the overall sorority experience.
Chapter Summaries
Following this introduction, chapter two presents a review of literature on the
development of the sorority movement and the nature of sororities. This chapter also presents
explanations of rituals and rites of passage and their role in various cultures, specifically to what
their significance is within the sorority culture. Also presented are theories concerning
adolescence to adulthood development, as well as student development theory as it relates to
women specifically. These theories have been integrated as they relate to the sorority
environment. The third chapter describes the methodology I used for this study. It explains
parameters for the interview process and procedures. The methodology chapter describes the type
of research that was conducted as well as the interview questions that were used for the study.
The last two chapters will provide a detailed account of the findings of the interviews, as well as
a discussion of their implications.
Operational Definitions
In order to understand the organizational structure and development of sororities, it is
important to have a clear understanding of terms that are presented throughout this research.
Sorority refers to an all-female, national organization with exclusive membership that
identifies itself by a series of two or three Greek letters and utilizes various forms of rituals for
induction of new members as well as for other ceremonial events.
National Panhellenic Conference (NPC) is an organization established to foster inter-
sorority relationships (ways in which sororities on a national and campus level create a working
relationship in order to have camaraderie within the sorority system), to assist collegiate chapters
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