Greek Life and Body Image on College Campuses
Greek life offers a unique social experience on many college campuses. The allure of effortless camaraderie, professional connections, and, most importantly, a community within a university’s broader population all serve as chief attraction points for students. However, before deciding to rush, it may be important to consider the relationship between Greek life and body image. More specifically, a history of exclusion, a strong emphasis on gender norms, and rigid definitions of masculinity and femininity negatively impact how many students view themselves.
How Can Being Involved in Greek Life Affect Body Image?
While negative body image is not necessarily caused by participating in a sorority or fraternity, the culture tends to promote rhetoric that can be triggering. Greek life and body image are often intertwined, as sorority women are stereotypically thought to be the epitome of the Western beauty ideal: small-waisted, long-legged, and fair-skinned. Similarly, fraternities are often portrayed as party hubs of muscular men, with an unspoken appearance requirement checklist. Historically, Greek life has been populated by policies that exclude individuals who deviated from this aesthetic. These rules and requirements have dwindled in recent decades, allowing for more diversity within these organizations.
Moreover, students in sororities and fraternities experience disproportionate levels of body dissatisfaction in comparison to other students. Studies show that, within the already high percentage of university students who struggle with body image, the rate of body dissatisfaction in sorority women is even higher. In addition, fraternity culture is infamously dense with toxic masculinity, which significantly contributes to negative body image in men, highlighting the complex relationship between Greek life and body image.
Biases and Norms in Greek Life: The Pressure to Fit In
The erasure of appearance-based expectations on paper does not always equate to the removal of the personal biases that still run rampant within Greek life. Even now, many sororities and fraternities harbor strict interpretations of gender norms and ascribe these rules to their members. Greek life and body image are closely connected, as traditional gender roles are inextricably tied to rigid versions of masculine and feminine bodies. The pressure to conform to these expectations – to look thinner to be more feminine or buffer to be more masculine – is only heightened as a result.
When it comes down to it, fitting in is an integral part of Greek life, and this can have a notable impact on Greek life and body image. This idea is evident in events that are intrinsic to the culture, like rush, or the process of recruiting new members. The specific process While the ins and outs of rush differs for each organization, it generally consists of various social events to gauge which students will be most compatible with the rest of the members.
In this sense, the importance of fitting in is not necessarily a negative characteristic. It is part of why the bonds formed in sororities and fraternities often end up as lifelong friendships. owever, when it comes to Greek life and body image, this desire to belong can also contribute to a deep need to fit in physically with other members. In an environment where fitting in is so valued, it can feel isolating to look different from other members of your sorority or fraternity, further reinforcing negative body image. These ideas are not always explicitly enforced by the organization itself, but it is not uncommon for personal biases about different body types to play a role in recruiting new members.
Greek Life and Eating Disorder Recovery
Ultimately, Greek life can be a fantastic way to find a sense of belonging in college, especially for students looking for a community. However, the connection between Greek life and body image, and the prevalence of body dissatisfaction among sorority and fraternity members, should not be ignored or normalized. If you are in eating disorder recovery, it is especially important to surround yourself with a group of people who will lift you up. Similarly, it is crucial to consider the impact that joining a sorority or fraternity would have on your mental health before choosing to rush. For support, contact your treatment team or a trusted friend or family member to help you make a recovery-aligned decision.
Get Eating Disorder Support This Semester
At BALANCE eating disorder treatment center™, we understand how challenging the back-to-school transition can be for students in recovery, especially when navigating the pressures of college, Greek life and body image, and we’re here to help.
Our specialized Back-to-School Intensive Program is designed to provide compassionate, structured back-to-school recovery support during this critical time. Whether you’re a parent or a student seeking guidance, you can schedule a free consultation call to learn more about our eating disorder treatment services. We provide in-person programming seven days a week and are in-network with UnitedHealthcare (UHC), Cigna, Emblem, and Oscar, with Aetna coverage coming soon. Support is available, and recovery is possible. Schedule a free consultation call with our admissions team here and stay connected with BALANCE on Instagram here.
References
- Schulken, Ellen D., et al. “Sorority Women’s Body Size Perceptions and Their Weight-Related Attitudes and Behaviors.” Journal of American College Health, vol. 46, no. 2, 1997, pp. 69–74., https://doi.org/10.1080/07448489709595590.
- Adams, David Francis, et al. “Gender Conformity, Self-Objectification, and Body Image for Sorority and Nonsorority Women: A Closer Look.” Journal of American College Health, vol. 65, no. 2, 2016, pp. 139–147. PubMed, https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2016.1264406.
This post was written by BALANCE Blog Contributor, Samreen Khan (she/her/he/him).
Samreen is a high school graduate with an ardent drive to de-stigmatize mental illness and eating disorders. Born and raised in the Bay Area, she experienced the harmful effects of “fitspo” culture firsthand for most of her childhood. Throughout her own recovery journey, she became passionate about deconstructing diet culture and raising awareness about eating disorders in her everyday life. Samreen began extending her own ideology of intuitive eating and body neutrality to others by publishing her own writing online when she was fourteen, and has since received several awards for her prose and poetry. She has conducted research on the biological and evolutionary implications of familial mental illness, and is currently taking college-level Sociology and Psychology courses with hopes to delve further into the social and cultural constructs that bolster disordered eating, especially within marginalized communities. She’s grateful for the opportunity to combine two of her strongest passions — writing and mental health — by working with BALANCE!
