Stigma Between Fraternity Members And Non-Members

Many new college students aspiring to become involved in campus activities and expand their group of friends may be posed with the age-old question of joining the Greek community or choosing to remain with the majority of non-members. However, many students are also confronted with the question of whether or not they want to be stereotyped for the duration of their college experience. I believe it is common knowledge that all fraternity members experience stigma, and some may even say that non-members may experience stigma to a certain degree.

I believe that both groups, fraternity members and non-members, are, at some time, stigmatized. However, the stigma that affects non-members usually only results from the members of fraternities and can be considered far less than the stigma that fraternity members receive from the rest of the population. For example, of Indiana University's population, only approximately 20% are involved in the Greek community, leaving a far greater number of students to stigmatize against the Greek members. However, fraternities are an organization, whereas the remainder of the population need not interact as the members of fraternities do. This may make the stigma against non-members more powerful. Fraternity members are stigmatized as being any of the following: conformists, unoriginal, followers, or sheep. They are also seen as extremely wealthy, stuck up, and

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conceited, probably owing their habitus of the upper class. Their membership in these establishments can be seen as a "blemish of individual character" resulting from weak will and treacherous and rigid beliefs, according to Goffman (Goffman 1963). However, the stigma is not immediately apparent, unless of course members are identifying themselves by wearing clothing with their Greek letters as most members do, thus making the stigma discreditable.

I have observed the interactions that occur between members of fraternities and non-members and the way that these interactions differ from the way that they would interact within their own groups. These interactions sometimes occurred indirectly, however. For example, when a member of each group passes one another on the way to class, there may only be nonverbal behavior to observe due to the lack of communication that sometimes occurs between the two groups. I did not choose to put my entire focus on a clearly defined group, in order to avoid biased observations.

Jessica is a college freshman, living far away from home and, consequently, far from her long-time boyfriend. Jessica and Austin, Jessica's boyfriend, talk on the phone daily about what is new in their very different lives. Austin is often categorized as the "skater" type who despises "preppy" people. When Jessica and Austin were talking on the phone one night, she told him that she would be going to a Fraternity party that weekend. Austin reacted very angrily and Jessica knew that he did not want her to go. He made some rude

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comments about "all frat boys" and was clearly stereotyping. Austin was stigmatizing against fraternities probably because of the stereotype that they

have. Most people hear that frat boys are "womanizers" and he probably did not want his girlfriend to be in that situation. This brings up the point of stigma affecting those not involved, but associated, with Fraternity members. Although Jessica is not a member of a fraternity, obviously, she is associated with them for attending a party and feels the stigma associated with fraternity members.

The second interaction I observed occurred between a group and one individual. Ben is a college freshman and a resident of the ninth floor of Eigenmann Hall, along with me. As recruitment for fraternities began towards the beginning of the year, a majority of the guys on our floor decided to pledge, leaving very few that did not. Things between Ben and the other male residents on the floor seemed to become tense as a result of him not feeling like he belonged. Most of the guys established connections through recruitment, whereas Ben felt left out. He soon moved out and in an informal interview with Ben, he had mentioned that the main reason for his moving out was because "he did not feel like the other males on the floor liked him" and was "not making many friends". I believe it was a result of him deciding not to pledge. Ben felt stigmatized because of his choice not to join a frat. He was also stigmatizing against the guys who decided to pledge by not trying to befriend them. The

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pledges may have also felt stigmatized by Ben as a result of him not trying to fit in with them.

Another form of the stigma I observed occurred as a result of two males being a member of different fraternities. The interaction took place between Justin, a resident of Eigenmann's ninth floor, and me. Justin is a pledge at Delta Upsilon and is very proud of his membership. During an informal conversation, I mentioned that a few guys from