Pledged: The Secret Life of Sororities [Paperback]

Alexandra Robbins (Author)

Book Description

Release date: July 6, 2005

Now in paperback, the New York Times bestseller-with over 91,000 copies in print-that takes you behind closed doors to see what really goes on in America's sororities. Ever wonder what sorority life is really like In Pledged, bestselling author Alexandra Robbins goes undercover to expose the dark side of collegiate sisterhood-the psychological abuse, hazing rituals, and widespread body image disorders-while at the same time introducing us to many of the intelligent, successful women within its ranks. The result is a compelling sociological exploration of the powerful influence that these organizations wield over young women today. With its fly-on-the-wall voyeurism and remarkable insight, Pledged paints a sharp-eyed portrait of the intriguing and paradoxical world of modern-day sororities.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Robbins, who previously researched Yale's Skull and Bones Society for Secrets of the Tomb and also coauthored Quarterlife Crisis, went undercover for the 2002-2003 academic year to investigate the inner workings of "Greek" (National Panhellenic Conference) sororities. Sororities are far from anachronisms; there are presently some 3.5 million women in almost 3,000 Greek chapters on campuses across America. After the national office forbade locals from cooperating with Robbins, she disguised herself as an undergrad and found four sorority women willing to risk expulsion to help her. While Robbins structures her narrative around the year's ritual cycle-the rush, the bid, pledging, initiation, Greek Week, etc.-the timeless soap opera of sorority life occupies center stage. And although battles between girls can be wrenching, there's nothing like a date gone wrong to bring out the tearsâ€"and the thermos of vodka. Beyond romance, Robbins's informants have their own issues, among them, being black and poor in a rich white sorority and recovering from date rape by a frat brother. These problems are worsened by an environment that encourages binge drinking, drug abuse, eating disorders and blind obedience to what their pledge masters or sorority elders tell them to do. Historically black sororities, which are not the focus of this book, do have a reputation for promoting community service and sisterhood; "historically white" sororities, Robbins concludes, are really just social groups for making friends and meeting guys, despite their claims to academic and service values. Robbins makes suggestions for reforming sororities-more adult supervision, ending pledging, etc.-although the demystification that comes from reading her front-line account may be the best prescription.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Despite the provocative subtitle, most of the information gathered by the author as she went undercover as a sorority girl is nothing especially new. After all, everyone knows sororities can be exclusive, conformist, and superficial organizations. But Robbins' account of life inside the sorority house still makes for fascinating reading. Following four sorority sisters through their first year in the house, a world of sex, drugs, eating disorders, and insecurity is revealed. One wonders, though, if these experiences are that different from the experiences of those students not affiliated with Greek societies. What is arguably different, though, is the extreme pressure brought to bear on these young women to repress their own natural instincts, desires, and inclinations in order to fit in with an amazingly shallow and often unworthy group of friends. Where the author really scores is in her analysis of why otherwise intelligent and sensitive women would sacrifice their independence, and often self-respect, for the sake of an artificially engineered secret society. Margaret Flanagan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; Reprint edition (July 6, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786888598
• ISBN-13: 978-1615533855
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 1 x 5.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (341 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #724,839 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

* Find me on Facebook for new character updates, contests to win free books, to give feedback, etc.* www.facebook.com/AuthorAlexandraRobbins. *You can also follow me on Twitter @AlexndraRobbins

I never know what to write for these things, so I'll just paste my publisher's bio: New York Times bestselling author Alexandra Robbins is the author of Goodreads' BEST NONFICTION BOOK OF 2011: "The Geeks Shall Inherit The Earth" - also a 2012 Books for a Better Life winner - and five other books.

The winner of the Heartsongs Award for contribution to the mental health of children and young adults, Robbins has written for several publications, including Vanity Fair, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Forbes, and regularly appears in the national media on shows such as "Oprah," "The Today Show," "60 Minutes," "The View," and "The Colbert Report." Robbins frequently lectures about her books and is touring in 2013. To view topics or book a lecture, please visit alexandrarobbins.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

95 of 99 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A very good read- part "novel," part "research" April 19, 2004

By "debbi1313"

Format:Hardcover

I began college as intensely opposed to sororities and the idea of "buying" my friends. Then, in my sophomore year of college, I met some girls in a sorority on campus, became friends with them, and eventually joined the sorority- an NPC group at a large state university.

It was one of the best decisions I ever made- I made great friends and developed so much as a person. I think many sorority girls would say the same thing. It was a great experience.

Had I read this book as a collegian, or recent graduate, I probably would have reacted the same as many of the sorority women's postings- "that is NOT true," "that never happens," etc. However, being removed from the situation by about five years gives you a different perspective.

I am not blind enough to sit here and say " I have NEVER seen any of these things Ms. Robbins talks about going on." That is simply not true. The alcohol, the parties, the date rape, the eating disorders- it's all there. Maybe it wasn't a part of my sorority, or yours, but it's been a part of someone's. Every chapter, on every campus, is different. One of my sorority's chapters at a major university was closed due to hazing. Yet, I was never once hazed in any way. It all depends where you are and the people who are there with you.

I didn't read this book thinking that Ms. Robbins was exposing "sororities everywhere." But I do think she provides a good depiction of how MANY sorority chapters operate. I think she also remained very objective in her writing. And, just think back to junior high or high school- the same catty girls, pressure to conform, etc. It's not all that different. The problem is there isn't really any other group comparable to a sorority-where 100+ girls can live together, attend the same meetings, share a common ritual, etc. You are thrown together much like real-life sisters live.

Yes, "pledge" is an outdated term. But not that outdated- only a few years. And many chapters still use it. Don't use things like this to try to prove the author didn't truly research. Alcohol has forever been banned in sorority houses- but it's always there. Paddles were banned- at least in my sorority- but people still buy them.

I really believe there are chapters out there who do emphasize scholarship, service, sisterhood, and the like. Mine was one of them, at least when I was there. Equally, there are chapters that do not. Several years before I joined, my chapter was completely different. It all depends on who is there at that particular time.

I hope that people won't use this book to determine whether or not to go Greek, but I would definitely recommend that everyone read it. If nothing else, it brings up things you will experience in college, whether in a sorority or not. It isn't fair to assume that these four girls' experience will be the same for you. It won't be. Yours may be better, it may be worse. I will recommend to my future daughters to rush and I would hope they had an experience like mine. However, if they ended up in a chapter that did not treat them with true sisterly values, I would also recommend that they leave.

The bottom line is that the experience you have depends on the school, the chapter, and the girls who are there with you. There is no "blanket" way to describe the Greek experience.

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Book is too good to write a bad review. April 20, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

A sister of mine I hadn't spoken with in a while asked me to write a negative review for this book. So I read the book figuring, from all my sister's fussing, that it would be easy to pan. But there was a problem. The very sister who is angry about this book did many of the same things listed in the book -- hazing, drinking, partying a little too closely with a specific group of "hot" fraternity boys. I know, because I did it too. Look, not everything in this book jives with my college experience, but enough does. It's actually not a bad book, either.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's not only about being Greek, it's about being female May 28, 2004

By "anna14876"

Format:Hardcover

As Alexandra noted in the end - it's not a book merely about the sororities, it's a book about women treating women. Yes, there is hazning in other organizations, clubs and such, but since they're not exclusively female they wouldn't be so helpful in analyzing the group dynamics. I've been working with the Greek houses on a state school campus for a while, and The book is very true. I can see how someone who's Greek could be offended by it, - maybe you don't see the bigger picture? I personally didn't even think the book was to critisize the Greeks - just give an overview of a group often overlooked.