Perceptions of promiscuity could put sorority women in danger

photo from WSU Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life
By Shawn Hutchinson

Many students know the ritual as the walk of shame, but Brooke Chapman said the phrase stride of pride should be used instead.

“If a woman wants to embrace her sexuality, more power to her. As long as she’s doing it safely,” Chapman said.

Over 20 percent of the student population at Washington State University is part of the Greek community, long stereotyped to be more promiscuous than other groups of students in a college setting. Chapman said that people within the community know what to expect of one another, but outsiders don’t always understand.

“There are definitely different perceptions on the outside, and it’s our own fault for how we portray ourselves on social media,” Chapman said.

Another student, Kaila Lafferty, also notices members of the Greek community participating in slut shaming.

“In freshman year, we had an attitude about shackers,” Lafferty said, in reference to what women who spend the night with a guy get called as they return home. “We should be supporting each other instead of piling on. It’s inappropriate.”

Chapman also mentioned shackers, but said it’s like an inside joke for the community rather than anything meant to degrade the women involved.

“Women aren’t as docile as they used to be,” Chapman said.

The expectation for women to protect their sexuality still exists. Andrea Walker, an instructor for a class about violence towards women, said society shames women when they are no longer viewed as pure.

“We have the idea that women are supposed to be sexually meek, that they’re not supposed to be promiscuous,” Walker said. “In many cultures, women are supposed to remain virgins until marriage. Slut shaming is one way to deter women from being sexually actively, at least openly.”

While it might seem like a joke at first, as Chapman said, Walker identifies a trend toward violence that can have origins in slut shaming.

“It makes other men and women view them as less than a person,” Walker said. “It’s easier to commit violence against them, and to look away when we see it happening to these people.”

Walker said people who are labeled sexually promiscuous could also be at a higher risk of being a victim of sexual assault. She compared this to how society historically accepted crimes against people of different races because they were viewed as lesser people.

“It’s easier to harm people we don’t perceive to be a proper human,” Walker said.

Psychologically, this can take a heavy toll on women perceived to be promiscuous.

“Unfortunately, some women start to believe it,” Walker said. “It can wreak havoc with self-esteem, their ability to relate to people, and their ability to have relationships with men. They start to view themselves as sexual objects.”

Walker said potential perpetrators may also start to view these women as easier to victimize, which makes sexual assault a more likely outcome.

Lafferty said sexualizing sororities, through the media in particular, can overshadow the positives within the Greek community.

“The Greek community GPA is higher than the average student’s, and philanthropy gets ignored,” Lafferty said.

Chapman said it can be difficult for men to conceptualize the impact of their words when they are putting women down, but they should think about one thing before they speak.

“Everyone has a mom, and the next time you say something about a woman, think of your mom and if you would say that to her face,” Chapman said. “Would you want someone to say that about her?”