lifestyles
The feminism of ETERHOOD
The founders of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Bettie Locke Hamilton, Hannah Fitch Shaw, Alice Allen Brant and Bettie Tipton Lindsay, were considered quite radical when they started the first Greek-letter women's fraternity in 1870. The goal of the group was to provide inspiration and motivation for women, who often were a minority on college campuses.
Sororities have long had a reputation for attracting superficial women whose only college goal was an engagement ring.The first sorority women were anything but traditional, however, and modern sororities are getting back to their roots.
By Kevin Hoffmann Kansan staff writer
In the 1950s and 60's, young women who attended college were expected to leave college with little more than an engagement ring. But, as the women's movement gained momentum in the 70s, college women were encouraged to pursue a career and leave the family behind.
Today women are expeted to have it all: marriage, family and a career.
Sororities, visible KU institutions for more than 100 years, have had to change with the times.
Sunny Walsh, house director of Pi Beta Phi, the oldest sorority at KU, said the role of women today was different from what it once was, and sororities have had to adjust accordingly.
"Women now are working." Walsh said. "Many of them will get married, some of them won't. It's just a different world for women today, and I think the greek system has had to go along with that."
Walsh said that the expectations of 1950s may have been the root of the stereotype that sorority women are helpless and superficial.
But some critics of sororities may be surprised to learn that the first sorority women were anything but helpless. In fact, many were considered quite radical for taking on the male-dominated greek system.
The first women's fraternity at KU, a charter of the I.C. Sorosis women's fraternity at Monmouth University in Illinois, was founded in 1873 as a counterpart to the all-male fraternities on campus. In 1888 the women's fraternity adopted the name of Pi Beta Phi. The word "sooritz" was not coined until after the turn of the century.
Kappa Alpha Theta, the nation's oldest greek-letter women's fraternity, was founded by Betty Locke in 1870 after she was asked to wear the badge of a men's fraternity but was denied initiation. Today Kappa Alpha Theta is one of the largest international fraternities.
"It's just a different world for women today, and I think the greek system has had to go along with that."
Sunny Walsh house director of Pi Beta Phi sorsity
Early sororities like Kappa Alpha Theta and Pi Beta Phi attempted to provide motivation for educational achievement and inspiration for women, who often were a minority on college campuses.
It wasn't long before sorority women were recognized as activists. In 1912, Chancellor Frank Strong expressed his fear that sororities, in a struggle for power and fame, would "trample anything that got in their way."
Bill Nelson,assistant director of the Organizations and Activities Center and supervisor of Panhellenic, the governing body for KU sororities, said changes in today's sororities were due to women's changing roles.
But sororities lost much of their bite as they matured, earning a reputation for attracting elitist and superficial women whose main college goal was an engagement ring.
Today, higher education is more important to women who are looking for rewarding careers as well as families.
"The majority of our women's chapters have done a
Nelson said the women's week program offered an opportunity for the sorority community to come together to talk about the role of today's women in higher education and society.
good job in trying to provide an opportunity for women to develop as leaders and as individual contributors to society," he said. "To that end, I think one of the biggest things Panhellenic has done is organize a women's week program."
Nelson said sororities provided many other opportunities for women.
"Panhelenic has been able to offer scholarships and financial assistance to women who have excelled academically," Nelson said.
Janine Gracy, coordinator of Health Education at Watkins Memorial Health Center, said benefits such as scholarships and awards were less common when she was a member of a KU sorority in 1981. Gracy, who remains in contact with her sorority, said she had noticed that the focus of sororities had changed.
"I don't think sororities are dealing with the same issues they were 40 years ago," Gracy said. "There are quite a few seminars, and the people that they bring in to speak are dealing with issues like self-esteem, leadership roles and empowering women."
Gracy said networking programs, in which professional alumni help graduating seniors start careers, helped women get ahead in the workplace.
"Sororites are trying to get more involved in networking," Gracy said. "Not only are you connected with the chapter in Kansas, but you're connected with the national organization as well."
Gracy said she was happy to see sororities adjusting to meet the needs of today's women.
"These are very important issues and issues that we didn't have to deal with even 10 years ago," she said. "I'm glad to see them being addressed."
People and places at the University of Kansas.
EXHIBITIONS AND LECTURES
Exhibition - Ante America, March 20-May 15 at Spencer Museum of Art.
Murphy Lecture - "Mao's Mausoleum" by Professor Lothar Ledderose, 7 p.m. tomorrow at Spencer Museum Auditorium.
Exhibition - Considering Space: Photographs from the Collection, March 27-April 30 at Spencer Museum of Art.
Exhibition - artist R. Gregory Walstrom, April 1-30 at Full Moon Cafe, 803 Massachusetts St.
PERFORMANCES
Spring Concert - KU Symphonic Band and KU Jazz Ensemble I, 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Lied Center. $6 public, $3 students, $5 senior citizens.
University Theatre Series - "The Heidi Chronicles," 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Crafton-Preyer Theatre. $8 public, $4 student, $7 senior citizens.
Student Choreographers Concert, 2 p.m. Saturday at Elizabeth Sherbon Dance Theatre in Robinson Center.
Spring Concert - KU Collegium Musicum, 2 p.m.
Sunday at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont St.
Master's Recital - Russell Callender, organ,
3:30 p.m. Sunday at St. Lawrence Catholic
Campus Center, 1631 Crescent Rd.
Spring Concert - University and Concert Bands,
3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Lied Center. $3 public.
$2 students and senior citizens.
Faculty Recital - Eric Rosenblith, violinist-in-residence, 7:30 p.m. Monday at Swarthout Recital Hall.
Recital - KU Saxophone Quartet, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday at Swarthout Rehall Hall.
Recital - KU Tuba/Euphonium Consort, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Swarthout Recital Hall.
Student Recital Series - Piano Concerto Concerts by students of Sequela Costa, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Sunday at Swarthout Recital Hall.
Recital - Graduate Music Honor Recital, 7:30
tonight at Swarthout Recital Hall.
Student Recital - Electronic Music Students,
7:30 p.m. tomorrow at Swartwout Recital Hall.
MIRROR On the Wall MIRROR
You might not be satisfied with what you see in the mirror, but are you being fair to yourself? Join us for a discussion about self-image and different factors that affect it. We will talk about ways in which you can enhance your
self-image and be more appreciative of who you are!
Tuesday, April 19, 1994
Pine Room, Kansas Union 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center, 115强 Hall. For more information, contact Renee Speicher at 844-3552.