I was in a sorority and was a chapter founder at my college. The year that we founded the chapter was crazy, stressful and lots-lots-lots of fun. I enjoyed all 25 of my ‘sisters’ and the process we went through from nothing to a full-fledged sorority that is still up and running at that college- its 20 year anniversary is next year. All of the sisters were very supportive of me as a single mom, were appreciative of my contributions and during our first march, my son rode along in his stroller, all dressed up. I enjoyed the process of establishing something and learning those steps has helped me with different projects that came up later in life. I couldn’t afford to stay in school, so left the semester after the chapter was founded.
Two years later, I went back to the same college, brought my sorority stuff with me ready to dive back in. However, the new batch of women did not welcome me back in and the ‘queen bees’ attacked me for being a nasty, embarrassing, appallingly shameful single mom. Nobody else would stand up to them. Wow. I used the alumni clause to get out and become inactive.
So, I’ve had both an excellent experience and a horrible experience and both are valid in their own respects. I don’t regret joining, still am friends with the founders and enjoy getting updates, but also recognize that a small group of cruel women can be very powerful.
Poetic justice? Eventually, two of the nose-in-air-holier-than-thous got knocked up… and dumped. Ah! Single moms! Tsk tsk.