Small Cultures Discussion

In class today, 1/23, we discussed the difference between small and large cultures and how they view the idea of  a culture. Each student was asked to identify a culture that they belong to, whether it be an ethnicity group, a sport team, or a club. I thought of my sorority Alpha Delta Pi, mainly because it has had such a major impact on my life and I have invested so much of myself and my energy into it.  I think this is a good choice for me to really analyze because not many people understand or can relate to the type of organization that is a sorority.
As far as essentialist/non-essentialist views go, I would argue that a sorority takes a non-essentialist view because the things that incorporate a sorority are verbs.  A member of a sorority does a lot.  While many different things make up a sorority, such as scholarship, leadership, and service, all these require action to be done.  The women in my sorority high ourselves to the highest standards in academic success, campus leadership, sisterhood, and personal morals.  In order to be an active member of Alpha Delta Pi, you need to have a certain GPA (which is above the average student's GPA), be involved in other activities outside of the sorority, complete so many service hours, and strive to achieve your personal best.  It sounds like a lot and very strict, but the women in my sorority WANT to be the best women that we can be.  Like members of any culture, we have many similarities yet differences from each other. We work together to become the best members of a Greek community that we can be.  Our image, or identity, is constantly changing based on who is in our house at that specific time, but we are based off of the same values of Christian womanhood and collegiate success.
One major part of a sorority that is more strict is the ritual.  This is certain ceremonies or passages that are kept secret among members.  The reason that this is so secretive is because we want to show respect to ourselves and our previous founders.  Anything that is ritual will be kept secret because there are ceremonies that reveal the secret symbols and meanings and go into more depth of the foundations upon which we were built. When it comes to ritual, that is privelege of membership and we do not talk about it unless we are in ritual.
Another major part of the sorority is our sense of sisterhood.  Obviously, in a culture, the people feel some sort of connection with other members and a sense of belonging and dedication.  The same is with ADPi.  Whenever I see a fellow sister, whether it be someone from my own chapter at ISU or another school or even a woman that graduated and is now an alum, I feel this sense of pride and connection with that woman because  I know that we represent the same things and stand for the same values.  I treat my sisters with respect, kindness, consideration, compassion, and love just like any member of a culture would.
Fraternity/Sorority men and women also have a unique language.  Many terms and phrases would not make sense to people that were never involved in the Greek system.  This is the same for most cultures.  Words like "legacy", "philanthropy", "panhellenic" or "chapter" would confuse someone if they knew nothing about the Greek system.  THrough involvement in this united culture, one can be exposed to learning the meaning of respect, honor, commitment, dedication, and fraternal loyalty in a way that is unlike any other culture.  Through my involvement in Alpha Delta Pi, I have learned its history, its secrets, and most importantly, about my fellow sisters and myself.