How Sorority Rules on Alcohol Effect the Members Body Image - Essay Example

Argumentative Policy Paper Sororities can be said to be a group or organization of women who tend to follow similar guidelines and rules when it comes to their particular affiliation of their sorority. Sororities have their own rules maintained and written down as per which the member has to act. Increasingly it is seen that these organizations have expanded all over the world leaving their mark on many girl students in the undergrad programs. Nowadays a strong debate is going on regarding the rules of the sororities and how these rules are affecting the lives of the girl students in the campus (Scott et al 2007). The main issue these days is regarding the consumption of alcohol by the girl students and how these students are being affected by it. Critiques of the sororities claim that joining sorority greatly helps the students to find a platform for themselves so that they can drink whereas the proponents claim that the rules of sororities are made in such a manner that the alcohol consumption by these students is minimized. This essay would further revolve around these two arguments and put forward the more convincing argument (Abbey 2002). According to some individuals members of sororities have to stay under their limits and play by the rules of the sororities and thus they have to be very careful when breaking their laws regarding alcohol consumption (Scott et al 2007). These sororities usually have rules which restrict the girl students from drinking alcohol in public beyond a stated limit. Age is not counted as an important factor in these sororities as these girls are not allowed to drink more than the stated limit which is usually below the level at which an individual can get intoxicated. For example Alpha Xi Delta Sorority has rules for frat parties in which the girls cannot drink more than two drinks. According to the proponents of sororities these rules have minimized alcohol intoxication in parties where the girls are at a risk of getting assaulted sexually or generally. Moreover these rules have also minimized the effect of intoxication on the academics of these girl students with their laws and rules. Similarly institutional organizations are also keeping a check on these sororities so that their rules are maintained in such a manner that the individuals affected by alcohol abuse are minimal. On the other hand however these sororities also have rules regarding parties arranged separately from the frat parties (Newman et al 2006). These rules however do not restrict the girls from consuming alcohol beyond the limit and it is thus possible that the girls here get intoxicated. But here again the proponents put forward that these girls when with their own sorority members are safe and sound even if they get intoxicated. The sorority members are supposed to protect each other no matter how intoxicated one gets either by calling the relevant authorities or themselves. These laws usually save these girls from getting sexually abused or from any other assault. Moreover according to these proponents these sororities are also helping to improve the psychologic state of women as they no longer have to worry about being in danger when intoxicated or any other case (Weitzman et al 2004 & Newman et al 2006). Women together in the sororities are responsible for each other and they tend to help each other in cases of danger. These proponents also put forward the view that women do not even have to suffer from states in which they are lagging behind in their studies as they are being given limits by the sorority heads. These sororities also particularly have avoidance rules which allow the students from avoiding a party where excess alcohol usage would be found. The proponents also put forward a word that the sororities usually restrict their members from indulging in parties where pure alcohol (liquor) is to be found so that the individuals do not get intoxicated and lose control. Thus on an over all perspective these proponents are with the view that the psychological state of girl students in the campus can be improved if they join a sorority and follow the rules laid down by them (Turrisi et al 2006). On the other hand this is not the case when it comes to the critiques of sorority laws regarding alcohol consumption. These critiques put forward the different researches done by different members of the institutional organizations. It is found that these sorority members are the individuals who are at the highest risks of being affected by alcohol consumption (Abbey, 2002; Copenhaver & Grauerholz, 1991; Scott-Sheldon, Carey,& Carey, 2007). A research has proved that the sorority members were more at risk to get sexually assaulted while being intoxicated than the non sorority members. According to these critiques the sororities put forward a view which generally holds alcohol as a social drink and not a drink which affects the cognitive abilities of one. These views generally then affect the people who join these groups and they consider it a positive aspect of life. Particularly these individuals are the most who are affected by alcohol consumption instead of the said limits of the sorority members. According to the critiques even with the limits set up the sorority members tend to drink a lot in all the parties. These sorority members only tend to drink less when other individuals of the society are present only to protect their image of a savior. It is also found that many members who are addicted to alcohol tend to join these groups just to grab a platform so that they can consume alcohol (Baer, 1994; Mohler-Kuo et al 2004). Moreover a research done by National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse found that Greek Students (Sorority members) use alcohol more as compared to the non-Greek students (CASA, 2007) These critiques also argue that it is these sororities that foster alcohol consumption amongst the students and with their back up the students tend to consume more and more alcohol. According to the critiques of sororities as the rules are only being followed properly when in exclusive social arenas, these women tend to be more attracted towards consuming alcohol excessively. This also affects the psychological image of the women students in the colleges. These girl students are not able to concentrate on their academics and colleges as they are consuming alcohol excessively. These girls are more prone to getting addicted and being sexually assaulted by other members of the society. Thus over all the critiques have to say that the sorority members are not only being affected negatively but it is also affecting their psychological body image. Girl students are using the sororities as platforms through which they are able to drink easily (Newman, Shell, Major, & Workman, 2006; Weitzman & Nelson, 2004) The proponents of sororities also have strong points but they lag in their position as it is these sorority members who are more prone to alcohol consumption. The rules and regulations of sororities are not strict enough to stop the women students from getting intoxicated and thus these sorority members are more frequently assaulted than the other women. In my view the critiques of sororities have a balanced view of the situation as it is these women who are joining sororities who are more prone to alcohol consumption than the other members. Similarly these members are also the ones whose psychological image is most affected by alcohol consumption. Researches have also shown that the sorority members are consuming more alcohol than the other members. Similarly the rules of sororities can only be strengthened if proper institutional organizations also play a role in it. These organizations can keep a check on these sororities and fraternities because of which these organizations are directly answerable to the institution. Sororities can be used as a positive approach towards decreasing alcohol consumption only if these organizations play their respective roles (Newman, Shell, Major, & Workman, 2006; Weitzman & Nelson, 2004). Bibliography Abbey, A. (2002). Alcohol-related sexual assault: A common problem among college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Supplement No. 14, 118–128. CASA. (2007). Wasting the best and the brightest: Substance abuse at america’s colleges and universities. New York: National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University. Copenhaver, S., & Grauerholz, E. (1991). Sexual victimization among sorority women: Exploring the link between sexual violence and institutional practices. Sex Roles, 24, 31–41. Scott-Sheldon, L. A. J., Carey, K. B., & Carey, M. P. (2007). Healthy behavior and college students: Does greek affiliation matter. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 31, 61–70. Baer, J. S. (1994). Effects of college residence on perceived norms for alcohol consumption: An examination of the first year in college. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 8(1), 43–50. Mohler-Kuo, M., Dowdall, G. W., Koss, M. P., & Wechsler, H. (2004). Correlates of rape while intoxicated in a national sample of college women. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 65(1), 37–46. Newman, I. M., Shell, D. F., Major, L. J., & Workman, T. A. (2006). Use of policy, education, and enforcement to reduce binge drinking among university students: The nu directions project.International Journal of Drug Policy, 17(4), 339–349. Weitzman, E. R., & Nelson, T. F. (2004). College student binge drinking and the prevention paradox: Implications for prevention and harm reduction. Journal of Drug Education, 34(3), 247–265. Turrisi, R., Mallett, K. A., Mastroleo, N. R., & Larimer, M. E. (2006).Heavy drinking in college students: Who is at risk and what is being done about it? Journal of General Psychology, 133(4), 401–420. Read More