Chapter Five is heavily comprised of quotations made by fraternity members during formal interviews. In this introduction, I point out that my results could be interpreted in a number of different ways. Each theory could be stretched to fit the quotations of fraternity participants. (more…)
This section turns my research over to fraternity members. I ask them to explain their own definition about what male bonding is. Their answers may surprise you. (more…)
It is not easy to fit 50-100 men in a single household and to expect them to all get along. In this section, fraternity members talk about the conflicts that take place inside their house and the rules and regulation that they can use to resolve them. (more…)
Various types of hierarchies exist in each fraternity house. These hierarchies may compete for power, which leads to many conflicts from within. In this section, fraternity member discuss their viewpoints about hierarchies and the value of maintaining them (more…)
There are many ways to divide a house. A common reason for conflicts arising at fraternity houses is that identity is often shaped by the use of us/them dichotomies. Fraternity members can unite according to their pledge class, school year, party habits, age, and even the floor they live on. Unfortunately, this identity can set them against other member of the household community. (more…)
Fraternity pledges are transformed into full-fledged members after a lengthy process of rituals. Initiation ceremonies can get out of hand and sometimes this involves hazing. The truth is that fraternity rituals continue long after the initiation process is over, and resentment can linger due to harsh activities while “rushing”. In this section, fraternity member speak about their initiation ceremony and what their fraternity’s rituals mean to them. (more…)
Fraternity rituals can be a double edged sword. On one hand, they bring people together and encourage support. On the other hand, the same set of rituals can set one group of men against another group of men at the same fraternity house. These rituals are part of an on-going process. This section looks at some of the side-rituals that are not necessarily connected to formal initiation. (more…)
One way to solidify the unity at a fraternity house is to create a rivalry with an opposing fraternity. Whatever internal problems exist, member can monetarily bond when there is a conflict with a shared enemy. Fraternity rivalry can be humorous and playful, but it can also lead to violent brawling as well. In this section, fraternity members speak about rivalry. I also ask them about the possibilities of bonding with a rival on a shared philanthropy project. Their response was quite surprising. (more…)
It is no secret that feminists feel a deep animosity for fraternities. These institutes are viewed as centers for white privilege and male power. As a result, a number of women’s groups have produced anti-fraternity literature and tried to shut fraternities down on campus. However, these feminist actions actually bring fraternity men together and make their male bond much stronger. Being weighed down with their radical theories, feminists may be missing the opportunity to have constructive dialogue with their “enemy” on how to reduce sexual assault. (more…)
This section looks at a controversial ritual that took place at Oregon State University while I was conducting research. In an evening ceremony, several fraternity members dressed in hoods and robes and marched in a candlelight procession. This ritual shocked several members of the African-American community, who associated the clothing with the Ku Klax Klan. A university-wide protest was triggered as a result, and several letters were published in the campus newspaper (the Barometer). Fraternity members viewed the protest as a big misunderstanding and complained about being sterotyped. Underneath all this conflict was the idea that fraternity members will have to change traditional rituals to adapt to modern times. (more…)