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Pledged: A Book Review
By: Melissa Bassin
Pledged, the highly controversial New York Times Bestsellr by Alexandra Robbins attempts to delve into the world of sorority life and expose the general population to, "the secret life of sororities". While Robbins claims to be an unbiased observer of Greek campus life it is continually apparent that she is not in favor of the Panhellenic system, one which she depicts as encouraging catty cliques, eating disorders, unhealthy conformity and at times rape.
In a study cited by Robbins researchers found that 80% of college women with bulimic tendancies were sorority members. Her evidence is substantiated by women who believe that one third of the members of their own chapter suffer from some form of an eating disorder.
Robbins equates these problems with a constant need of sorority members to feel like they fit in with their sisters. Evidence of conformity is displayed through depictions of hazing and rape. According to Robbins nearly half of all sorority members have been raped by a member of a fraternity. She feels tht in many cases girls do not step forward to report these acts they are afraid of strained relations with campus fraternities.
Robbins's anecdotes and statistics represent several tragic issues that should be addressed within the organizations they affect. It is clear, however, that Pledged focuses mainly on large campuses and universities where Greek involvement can make or break a student socially. As a result, these organizations with strong alumni and university ties have elite privileges that allow them to cover up problmes that would never be tolerated at George Washington. Greek life varies significantly across university lines and it would be hard for many to comprehend being part of a group that charges a $2,000 membership fee, or houses twnty-six sisters in a single room. Although I cannot say for certain that these problems and many other issues which Robbins discusses at length do not exist on this campus; it is my belief that the extent to which they occur is rare and is not accurately reflected in Robbins' research.
For the most part, Pledged is an inforamtive read if you take it lightly and don't look to it so much for facts or expect an accurate depiction of what goes on within your own chapter. I noticed that even some of the "secrets" that were revealed about my own sorority were not true. The main characters fit many different molds and it is easy to find them likeable and relatable. The second part of the book however, is rather monotonous for someone who is already in a sorority. I think Robbins had a great idea in her attempt to study sorority life but her research should have been more extensive, the book is definately not worthy of Bestseller title.
The writer is a sophomore in the Alpha Delta Pi sorority.
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