The popular opinion of fraternities is that of a place where "frat boys" party every night of the week. It's where one is measured by their drinking ability and nothing else. Also, they have been thought to be the snobby crowd who act like jerks and think they are better than everyone else. Many people picture the film "Animal House" when the subject of fraternities is brought up; a bunch of ogre guys who are drunk all the time. It is suppose to be lifestyle where they can go through keg after keg and think they look like the privileged, upper-class society in college life. Although many people think of fraternities as the party people, they do not know the actual side of fraternities; which consists of brotherhood, academics, self-development, community service, and leadership.
The popular opinion of fraternities is fueled by the common stereotype and the misconception that the Hollywood industry portrays. Hollywood has always produced an exaggeration of what goes on in the Greek life. The stereotype of fraternities was made even stronger when the film "Animal House" came out. While the film was very funny, it set in everybody's mind that fraternities were either slobs or stuck up. Everyone needs to understand that movies are for one purpose: entertainment. A movie that involves a fraternity usually just shows the party side to make a more entertaining film. Partying is not why fraternities are started. People are not able to have the chance to see the other side unless they were involved in it. As for the actual party life of a fraternity, it can not be denied, but it's not what they are about; and there is a lot more to fraternities that a lot of people are unaware of.
First off, an unknown fact to most people is the size of fraternities. In the United States of America alone, there are sixty-six different fraternities. These fraternities are represented by 6,000 chapters, on 800 campuses, and more than 500,000 current members.