An Exploratory Study of the Experiences of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Fraternity and Sorority Members Revisited

The lead author questioned over 500 self identified gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) fraternity and sorority members to assess their reasons for joining; how their membership affected their sexual identity development and intimate relationships; the degree of homophobia and heterosexism encountered; how sexual orientation affected the quality of their fraternal experiences; and the level of acceptance or rejection they faced. Many respondents were in the early phases of sexual identity development at the time they joined, and most chose to conceal their sexual orientation from their fellow members. This study details the reactions from fellow members, assesses satisfaction with the fraternity or sorority experience, and reports the level of involvement of GLB students in their fraternities or sororities

An Exploratory Study of the Experiences of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Fraternity and Sorority Members Revisited

The lead author questioned over 500 self-identified gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) fraternity and sorority members to assess their reasons for joining; how their membership affected their sexual identity development and intimate relationships; the degree of homophobia and heterosexism encountered; how sexual orientation affected the quality of their fraternal experiences; and the level of acceptance or rejection they faced. Many respondents were in the early phases of sexual identity development at the time they joined, and most chose to conceal their sexual orientation from their fellow members. This study details the reactions from fellow members, assesses satisfaction with the fraternity or sorority experience, and reports the level of involvement of GLB students in their fraternities or sororities

The State of Fraternity/Sorority Research

Over 50 years ago, Baciq and Sgan (1962) wrote, “Only an increase in the factual data about fraternities will raise the level from the emotional and anecdotal to the rational and logical” (p. 95). In their introduction to The Impact of College on Students, Feldman and Newcomb (1969) noted that the periodic assessment of scientific endeavor is essen-tial for any profession. Practitioners often reflect on and discuss the nature of research in their chosen field, but generally only during conferences or in other informal ways. Feldman and Newcomb believed, however, that the reflection on research in a profession such as fraternity and sorority life should be more systemic. Despite these warnings, Fin-egan and Hines (1967) reported in American Fraternities: An Agenda of Needed Research, “Nowhere, so far as we know has anyone undertaken a ‘research program’ with college fraternity life as its focus” (p. 3)...https://scholarworks.wm.edu/educationbookchapters/1049/thumbnail.jp

Editorial: The History and Evolution of the Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice

Individuals involved in the founding of the Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors (Oracle), former Oracle editors and Adam M. McCready, Editor of Journal of Sorority and Fraternity Life Research and Practice share the history and evolution of the journal over the past two decades