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l03wn3 t1_ivnrtdi wrote

Reply to comment by Cicero912 in Cornell suspends fraternity parties and social events after allegations of sexual assault and drug-laced drinks | CNN by beeps-n-boops

Why is it seen as desirable to be in a frat? From an outsider, this is very hard to understand.

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GoochMasterFlash t1_ivnsvhs wrote

On the one hand I feel like this is just former frat dudes hyping up frat life as they normally tend to, over glorifying every aspect of it. But also on the other hand there could be a few reasons why it makes sense in some ways.

One, from the opposite sex perspective sorority girls are also often viewed as more attractive. So maybe just the relationship between sex, party culture, and greek life drives attraction towards people in greek life.

Two, people in greek life are usually well-off financially. Frats and Sororities are a way that people literally pay to build a social circle and have friends.

Three, going back to the party thing, its probably just that frat parties are a longstanding and consistent location for women to find casual sex despite the fact that its obviously a pretty sketchy place to do so.

Overall though, I think you have to view it through the lens of the shallowness that is greek life. Being in a frat doesnt make the guys more desirable, its just that being in a frat leads them to be more central to the social functions that drive a lot of sexual encounters

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princessParking t1_ivow6yn wrote

>On the one hand I feel like this is just former frat dudes hyping up frat life as they normally tend to, over glorifying every aspect of it. >

As someone who's always hated frats and sororities but had several close friends in the latter, I can confirm that they do have this much sex and they do still over hype it. The vast majority of the sex happens between fraternity and sorority members, because that's the #1 purpose of them. Some of it is straight up non-consensual, and most of it is problematic at best and stems from peer pressure.

>One, from the opposite sex perspective sorority girls are also often viewed as more attractive. >

Pretty much only by frat guys, because they know they will have an easier time finding someone to sleep with (or tricking/pressuring them into it).

>Two, people in greek life are usually well-off financially. Frats and Sororities are a way that people literally pay to build a social circle and have friends. >

This is all of it. Well off students who are used to being seen as elite pay to make sure they get the experience that bolsters that view. We have to remember we're talking about teenagers here, so sex = clout. The few people that aren't well off have been conditioned by their families or friends to believe they'll only be accepted if they join a frat/sorority, thus making them extra susceptible to bullying/peer pressure/sex they normally might not choose to have.

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l03wn3 t1_ivnvn59 wrote

Just to be clear, when you say “greek life”, that is an expression for “frat/sorority” life, right? It’s seems to have little to do with actual Greece or greek way of life, even if there are references in the names of the frats.

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GoochMasterFlash t1_ivnvviu wrote

Correct, I think its just called greek life because of the naming convention using the greek alphabet, which maybe stems from an older style of club naming in colleges that was pre-fraternity. Fraternities were basically self-improvement focused social clubs a long long time ago so it is ironic that they now are basically the opposite of that

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CoochieSnotSlurper t1_ivovjuf wrote

People will tell you brotherhood and professional connections and blah blah blah but really you get awesome expensive parties, easy social connections when people learn you’re in one, and attention from girls when you are bang average. Exclusive ones on prestigious campuses generally will provide those professional connections almost like nepotism but for the most part it really is just about getting women.

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Dejugga t1_ivpez1v wrote

Social clout basically. A whole lot of people want to get into the partying and casual sex side of college & frats tend to throw a lot of parties due to having money to throw around (due to attracting wealthier students), and thus control who gets into those parties. Also, you instantly get a community by joining. Doesn't mean it's a great community, but lots of guys are pretty bad at making friends.

That said, I doubt it's a great experience for people without money/connections. And I wonder how much of a difference it really makes, because if you're well-off, social, and decent-looking, you're probably going to do pretty well in the college casual sex scene regardless.

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