Madeline Vines

October 13, 2015

WRD 110 Section 058

Jennifer Hudgens

Eating Disorders within Sororities

Eating disorders are a prevalent issue in America today. Approximately there are twenty four to thirty million people affected by this mental health issue. On top of that, sorority membership increases the behavior of disordered eating by 41% (Ruckh, 1). These behaviors are not the behaviors of someone who wants to better their health. According to the National Eating Disorder Association, mental health issues such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder are characterized as: extreme emotions, attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues. My research brought up many questions.

            This is a picture taken from the official Phi Mu facebook page. I chose this because hazing is a leading cause of self-esteem issues as well as disordered eating in sororities. Our founders, Mary Elizabeth Myrick, Martha Bib Hardaway and Mary Ann Dupont were young teenagers when they founded our organization. In no way did they condone hazing. “Hazing is defined as any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, regardless of willingness to participate” (Phi Mu, hazing module, 1). Hazing is large part of making young ladies feel bad about their bodies. The forces of hazing can negatively impact people with mental illness such as anxiety and depression more than people who do not have these diseases.

This picture is the front of the Phi Mu sorority house otherwise known as the "Mu Mansion". At first glance the house may remind some of the Barbie Dream House. Of course this is not true but many PNMs (Potential New Members) may see this as a barrier to become a part of something so great. Mu Mansion stuck out to me because this house of grandeur embodies the stereotype of a pretty, rich, skinny and blonde sorority woman.  A lot of people think that mental illness or eating disorders are a choice. People affected by these things don't choose to have this horrible disorder, just like no one chooses to have cancer. However there is a complete disregard in handling these two types of illness. For those who believe only pretty, preppy, and perfect ladies who are waiting to grace the Miss America stage can be a part of Greek life it puts up a large barrier. As Phi Mu members as well as members of the Greek community, we need to break this barrier and support our sisters now and in the future for whatever strides into our house.

            Here in this bar graph it is clear to see that mental illness and eating disorders puts a strain on college students. The force of this strain is increased dramatically in someone involved in Greek life. This is not to say that Greek life makes people more susceptible to these illnesses but it definitely has a greater effect on members of sororities. Eating disorders negatively impact college students performance in school. Students involved in Greek life are on their campus of choice for obvious reasons such as receiving their degree, but they also come to college to learn more about themselves and explore the world. Studies have shown that eating disorders have been positively correlated with sorority membership and that this epidemic has been observable since 1983. As Averett, Terrizzi, Wang state “The largest effects are found with the behaviors of vomiting or use of laxatives and using pills to lose weight. Using our estimates from the most robust OLS specification, we find that sorority membership increases the likelihood of these behaviors by 41% (0.015 percentage points) and 35% (0.014 percentage points), respectively” (11) and  These same studies show that mental illness and eating disorders are related to functional impairment and suicidality. This is a fatal phenomenon that sorority members should be actively raising awareness about because otherwise the sisterhood would be compromised.

Pictured here is our Phi Class President and I at our annual philanthropy event. Ms. Rodgers does everything in her power to orchestrate the new members of our sorority. She introduces us to new people and the executive position holders. Her main goal is for all the new members to feel welcomed and accepted. We as a pledge class get along fairly well and many of the members are already like sisters. Ms. Rodgers is responsible for our behavior within the chapter as well as throughout campus. Leaders within the chapter must be consciously aware of the messages directly and indirectly implanted into new members. During the first few weeks pledges are most vulnerable to messages concerning behavior, weight and appearance (Reno, 3).  If these messages portray non model like girls in a bad light it reflects directly on the chapters and skews new members’ views on what it means to be a sorority woman.

This plaque is on our front closet door of the house. As members of our sorority we take pride in our chapter and all it has to offer. The sisters support each other through everything. Like young love there is a bit of a honeymoon stage when young women join sororities. Studies show that as the membership time increases so does the increase of actively shaping young minds as to how they should look and behave. Reno argues that “Additionally, women join sororities during critical identity formation of “what it means to be women,” which may further enhance the influence that sororities have on members’ body image and behaviors concerning weight and appearance” (4). With Rodgers’ help Phi’s can feel confident walking into their house by not feeling judged or out of place.

Through my research I have found that there is a positive correlation between the sorority membership and disordered eating as well as mental illness. Greek members should be actively seeking involvement to raise awareness about the issue as well as make our Phamily as comfortable as possible. Each sorority should be more active in supporting people with mental health issues and eating disorders. Helping PNMs through a stressful time during recruitment would greatly increase the interest in going Greek.

Works Cited

The Effect of Sorority Membership on Eating Disorders and Body Mass Index

Averett, Terrizzi, Wang, July 2013

            edu.phimu.org

National Headquarters, 2011

            Total Sorority Move

Ruckh, 2015

            A Prospective Study of Disordered Eating among Sorority and Nonsorority Women

Allison, Park 2003

Do Sororities Promote Members’ Health? A Study of Memorable Messages Regarding Weight and Appearance

Reno, University of Colorado, 2013