Pledged

February 2, 2004
Robbins, who previously researched Yale's Skull and Bones Society for Secrets of the Tomb
and also coauthored Quarterlife Crisis
, went undercover for the 2002–2003 academic year to investigate the inner workings of "Greek" (National Panhellenic Conference) sororities. Sororities are far from anachronisms; there are presently some 3.5 million women in almost 3,000 Greek chapters on campuses across America. After the national office forbade locals from cooperating with Robbins, she disguised herself as an undergrad and found four sorority women willing to risk expulsion to help her. While Robbins structures her narrative around the year's ritual cycle—the rush, the bid, pledging, initiation, Greek Week, etc.—the timeless soap opera of sorority life occupies center stage. And although battles between girls can be wrenching, there's nothing like a date gone wrong to bring out the tears—and the thermos of vodka. Beyond romance, Robbins's informants have their own issues, among them, being black and poor in a rich white sorority and recovering from date rape by a frat brother. These problems are worsened by an environment that encourages binge drinking, drug abuse, eating disorders and blind obedience to what their pledge masters or sorority elders tell them to do. Historically black sororities, which are not the focus of this book, do have a reputation for promoting community service and sisterhood; "historically white" sororities, Robbins concludes, are really just social groups for making friends and meeting guys, despite their claims to academic and service values. Robbins makes suggestions for reforming sororities—more adult supervision, ending pledging, etc.—although the demystification that comes from reading her front-line account may be the best prescription. Agent, Paula Balzer. (Apr. 14)

Forecast:
Robbins is mediagenic and has lots of connections (she's written for the
New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly, USA Today, Self and other publications). A
Today appearance will boost sales, although it's hard to pin down this book's audience. Those interested in joining a sorority probably won't pick it up, and it's not particularly addressed toward feminists. Do university policy makers watch the
Today show?

April 15, 2004
For over a century, what happens in sororities and fraternities has been kept top secret. Robbins, who looks 19 but is actually 26, decided to infiltrate sororities across the nation to see whether the age-old stereotypes were true. The result: a scathing expos of racism, sex, drugs, and abuse, both psychological and physical. Her book follows four girls throughout the year and documents their experiences with pledging; moving in; dating; endless partying, drinking, and drugging; and more. Sororities demand an enormous time commitment, with steep financial and emotional costs. Highly rigid factors such as wealth, good looks, and connections make the difference as sororities accept one pledge over another. Robbins, a writer for The New Yorker and Cosmopolitan, provides a solid history of Greek life, cites differences between white and black sororities, and suggests ways to ease up on the abusive aspects of sorority life. What's so puzzling is how seemingly intelligent coeds can be so devoted to their sisters, despite the hazing and brutality. "These are my girls, and they're here for me," rationalizes one emotionally scarred pledge. Robbins gives readers reason to see how very destructive this "sisterhood" has become. Recommended.-Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2004
Despite the provocative subtitle, most of the information gathered by the author as she went undercover as a sorority girl is nothing especially new. After all, everyone knows sororities can be exclusive, conformist, and superficial organizations. But Robbins' account of life inside the sorority house still makes for fascinating reading. Following four sorority sisters through their first year in the house, a world of sex, drugs, eating disorders, and insecurity is revealed. One wonders, though, if these experiences are that different from the experiences of those students not affiliated with Greek societies. What is arguably different, though, is the extreme pressure brought to bear on these young women to repress their own natural instincts, desires, and inclinations in order to fit in with an amazingly shallow and often unworthy group of friends. Where the author really scores is in her analysis of why otherwise intelligent and sensitive women would sacrifice their independence, and often self-respect, for the sake of an artificially engineered secret society.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)