Fraternity vs. Sorority

Have you ever wondered why Alpha Gamma Delta is referred to as the Fraternity? In observance of Women's History Month in March, we look to a blog post from fraternity/sorority historian Dr. Fran Becque for a closer look at the naming of Greek-letter organizations.

“Why are some National Panhellenic Conference groups women’s fraternities and some are sororities?” is a question I am often asked. It’s a tough one because the 26 NPC organizations are typically referred to as sororities in everyday conversation (i.e. sorority recruitment, office of fraternity and sorority life, etc.). In [my] blog I find myself referring [them] as sororities, even though I know fully well that the majority are women’s fraternities or "fraternities for women."

Credit for this dilemma is given to one man, Dr. Frank Smalley, a [Latin] professor at Syracuse University. Gamma Phi Beta was founded at Syracuse in 1874. Eight years later, Gamma Phi Beta’s second chapter was was installed, an announcement appeared in the newspaper. On the following day, Smalley made his now-famous comment, “I presume that you young women are now members of a sorority,” thereby coining the word and bringing it into modern usage.

In the October 1912 Crescent of Gamma Phi Beta, Smalley explained, “It appears to me that the use of the word ‘sorority’ to indicate a college Greek-letter society of young women needs no defense. It is to some extent a question of taste. The word ‘fraternity’ when used of such a society seems a little forced, although the comprehensive use of masculine terms to include women, sometimes justifies it. However, when we have a Latin form sororities, which is specific and exact, why should not the English form ‘sorority’ be used with the same exactness as we observe in the ordinary use of the pronouns he and she?”

The roots of the word “fraternity” are from “phratia,” the Greek word meaning people who hold a common interest, as well as the Latin word “fraternitas.”

The name 'The Syracuse Triad' refers to the three sororities founded at Syracuse University. In addition to Alpha Gam, the Triad includes Alpha Phi and Gamma Phi Beta. The first two groups were established before the term "sorority" was created, so Alpha Gam followed suit chose Fraternity. Learn more about The Syracuse Triad in the Quarterly's Fall 2013 issue.

Those officially [designated] a sorority are Alpha Delta Pi, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Alpha Sigma Alpha, Alpha Sigma Tau, Delta Phi Epsilon, Delta Zeta, Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Delta, Sigma Delta Tau, Sigma Kappa and Sigma Sigma Sigma.

By Dr. Fran DeSimone Becque–Pi Beta Phi. Fran is the founder of fraternityhistory.com where she regularly shares historical and often unheard stories from Greek-letter organizations. She holds a Ph.D. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Her dissertation, "Coeducation and the History of Women's Fraternities," documented the growth of the seven founding members of the National Panhellenic Conference. Follow her on Twitter ® @GLOhistory.

FUN FACT: All four National Pan-Hellenic Council women’s organizations were incorporated as sororities. NPHC sororities refer to fellow members as "soror," from Latin, meaning 'sister' or 'female friend.' Learn more about the history of NPHC groups on the Alpha Gam Blog.