Research Blog #10

Abstract: This paper serves to explore the changes that occurred in fraternity life using a socio-cultural lens. We start by examining the founding of fraternities and the reasons behind their creation in the first place. By understanding the original culture that surrounded fraternities during their initial founding, we can better gauge the changes that led fraternities to today's representation. Furthermore Professor Castellano's research on generational cohorts allows us to deepen our knowledge of the fluctuating societal landscape, and the cultural differences of values and norms between them. As fraternities have retained their culture, independent of mainstream society for over 100 years, we can approach their profound changes through Social Darwinism. Animal House's misrepresentation of fraternities was so popular with the mainstream culture, that it usurped the original culture that fraternities were founded upon and maintained up until that point. Decades later, these "party fraternities" are not as popular (as depicted in the recent movie Neighbors), and we see a significant public push back. This is mainly due to a cultural shift in the generational values and norms that don't make "booze, sex and drugs" a priority as they once were. As Gen X was different from Baby Boomers, Millenials are that much different form Gen X. Today, a system of checks and balances are in place to reinstate some order into fraternities, including complete shut downs of local chapter. Fraternities as a whole shouldn't be abolished altogether, considering such measures are being taken.

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