Stereotypical sororities and fraternities are perfect and accept nothing less. They have perfect-looking members who have perfect bodies and though they might not have perfect grades, it’s okay because school isn’t important.

That’s not true at all.

While I may not be brave enough to break away from my shyness and pledge a sorority, I’ve met people in both sororities and fraternities on campus. For the most part they’ve proven to me that the stereotype isn’t true; there is a lot more to sororities and fraternities than what is portrayed on TV and in movies. They accepted me even though I’m not perfect, like a stereotypical girl associating with sororities and fraternities is thought to be.

And although most people in sororities and fraternities are just normal people in really cool clubs, there are still some that live up to the stereotype. Recently, there have been allegations that the Delta Zeta sorority of DePauw University in Iowa kicked out members because of how they looked, because they didn’t fit into the stereotype of a sorority girl.

From what I’ve experienced, sororities and fraternities are meant to create a positive support system for college goers. They are an outlet to have fun and make friends, while participating with something bigger than just one school. They motivate people to be better students by having a minimum GPA requirement, and there are national rules that are meant to limit and keep partying safe.

However, the one thing that isn’t mentioned in all of this is a requirement of looks. True, not everyone who pledges gets into the sorority or fraternity. But this decision is, from what I’ve seen, more based on actions of individuals and attitudes rather than looks. At least it should be.

As far as I’m concerned, sororities and fraternities can definitely be a good thing. There are different types of sororities and fraternities for different types of people. They create a family for people, a home away from home. Sororities and fraternities can be something special. It’s only when people decide to judge based on looks rather than personality that I have a problem.

Even if the sorority didn’t really kick the girls out because of the way they looked, that even being an issue creates a problem. That’s actually one of the main reasons I won’t pledge a sorority: My fear of rejection based on my looks. That idea, of judging based on looks, supports every stereotype created for sororities and fraternities, especially the idea that they are superficial. Actually, it supports the stereotype for any “in crowd” situation.

Stereotypes aren’t reality. They’re a warped version of reality that people believe or act upon based on their desire to get something out of it. Some people feel better about themselves for putting others down. But that shouldn’t affect people’s chances of getting into a sorority or fraternity. Naturally, issues can occur. Problems will happen. But that’s really different from the actual pledging process of the sorority or fraternity itself. That’s individuals or small groups of people having problems with each other based on probably a personality clash. Not based on looks.

Sororities and fraternities should not base acceptance on looks, but the things that they do judge pledges on most of the time. Basing acceptance on looks is frivolous and stereotypical; there is more to sororities and fraternities than that and generally it shows. And then maybe someday more girls like me, women who are shy, quiet and reserved, will want to pledge a sorority, knowing that we may actually have a chance to fit in.