When it comes to sororities, it's not so much what the rituals and social events are, but what they symbolize. Semiotics (the study of signs) is an example of a concept that can be applied to sororities very easily by how sororities use these different signs. These signs include the Greek letters that each sorority uses, pledging, initiation, traditional handshakes, passwords, songs, big and little relationships between sorority sisters, and philanthropic events that are put on by each sorority. When speaking to different sorority members around campus, I realized that each specific part of the sorority has a meaning or a sign. Each Greek letter depicts a sign that represents each sorority. .
When pledging, new members learn the symbolism of the organization and also learn the motto of the sorority. Initiation is also another integral part to the sororities' traditional ritual process, much like pledging. Secret handshakes, passwords, and songs are another way to show a sign that one is a member of a particular sorority. The handshakes and passwords are secret between the members of each sorority. There are big sisters and little sisters who form a relationship within the specific sorority they are a part of, and ultimately the big sister acts as a mentor to show the little sister how to grow through the sorority. Then there are philanthropic organizations that each sorority works with to put on social events in order to make a profit to donate to each organization.
The letters that each sorority uses comes from the Greek alphabet. For example, Tri Delta uses the Greek letter, Delta for their symbol which is a triangle. These letters signify which sorority is which and are used on paddles, t-shirts, or anything else that the sorority needs a symbol for. These letters may even have a secret history or a motto that goes with them that can be very dear to a sorority as a whole. Each sorority also has a day on the calendar where all sorority members are supposed to represent the sorority by wearing their letters around on t-shirts, jackets, or any garment that shows loyalty to the sorority.
