Gender Imbalance and the Consequences . After my first week on campus I quickly realized that the fraternities and the fraternity brothers are the masters when it comes to planning parties and partying

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                Gelber

Elena Gelber

ENGL 001-010

11/12/11

Gender Imbalance and the Consequences

At Lehigh University it is clear right from the start of freshmen orientation that Greek life dominates the social scene and the parties at the university. Men and women are generally judged solely based on the house they belong to and the reputation associated with that house. The Greek culture is revered and accepted, and the house hierarchy is known to a freshman immediately. There are tons of different stereotypes associated with the houses; there are the party houses, the Jewish houses, the smart houses, and the list continues. In particular, there is also a subculture, which Lehigh possesses, in which the fraternities dominate and mandate the social scene. In particular, the men in the fraternities have all the power when it comes to planning parties and events. After getting acclimated to the university, I realized that fraternity brothers dominate the social scene in terms of parties and events, and place the females at a level below them. There is a clear gender imbalance at the university not only in number, but in practice which places the men above the women, and the woman do not question the culture, but instead accept it and embrace it.

        After my first week on campus I quickly realized that the fraternities and the fraternity brothers are the masters when it comes to planning parties and partying. This is evident in many ways. For example, the men are the ones who always choose which girls and boys to invite to their parties, the “fun-ness” of the party is very much dependent on the status of the fraternity that is hosting, and lastly ALL parties on campus are hosted at the fraternity houses, NEVER at the sorority houses. The fraternity houses can have any kind of party they want, and let their houses get trashed, while the girls maintain a clean house at all times. The girls probably do not complain, and the boys probably do not complain either because of the control they possess at those parties.

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I will never forget going to my first Lehigh party during orientation, and watching a group of girls flock to a fraternity house in tiny outfits and high heels. There were about fifteen girls in this group, and when they arrived at the door, one of the fraternity brothers examined the first girl he saw and shook his head in disgust. He did not let this group of girls inside his party for no apparent reason except for appearances. The girls were shocked and confused and walked away in hope of finding another party. This anecdote is just one of ...

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