A New Perspective on Sororities

[Laura]

Alexandra Robbins’ Pledged is a nonfiction book that gives readers an insight on the lives of sorority girls and sororities in general. Robins makes it clear that even though sororities are a popular way to meet new girls in college, they have the potential to do more harm than good. Members of these elite groups are pressured to fit in with the crowd, and most of them will do whatever it takes to accomplish this. Pledged follows four college sorority girls at an anonymous university. The girls share information about their sorority life experiences with Robbins. Each one of these girls go through their own hardships dealing with boys, racial discrimination, sexual assault, and sorority friendships.
Pledged is a lively read which combines the conflict of how sororities are portrayed in the media versus how they are when on the inside. For example, Vicki, a shy member of Beta Pi, struggles with fitting into her preppy sorority. Over time, Vicki makes friendships within her house, but always feels like an outsider. Amy, a bubbly sophomore is actively involved in her sorority Alpha Rho, but she can never seem to get a guy to like her as more than a friend. Caitlin struggles with an abusive relationship with her longterm boyfriend while acting as Vice President of the Alpha Rho house. Lastly, Sabrina is one of two African Americans in a mostly white sorority and she is constantly dealing with racist comments made by her so-called sisters. Standards are set by each individual sorority and if a girl doesn't meet these standards, she is looked down upon. Many girls who join sororities struggle with eating disorders, toxic relationships, extreme hazing and bullying. Robbins gives readers a look at this from her first hand experiences. Sororities allow girls to become part of a group, but Robbins found that they tend to make most girls feel more like outsiders than before ever joining the sorority.
Overall, Alexandra Robbins’ Pledged is a good read that informs readers about the benefits and risks that come with joining a sorority. I would suggest that those who plan to join a sorority read Pledged before you do so in order to better understand everything that comes with the membership of a sorority. The diary style writing of Pledged entices its’ audience and allows readers to get a better look of what is behind the doors of these “perfect” sororities.


Robbins, Alexandra. Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities. New York: Hyperion, 2004. Print.