Fraternity vs Sorority
Fraternity and sorority are two terms that are often used to describe all-male and all-female societies and groupings, respectively. Although they have similar meanings, there are some differences between the two words.
Fraternity is a word that has been used in the English language for quite some time, and initially, it denoted all-male societies and groupings. However, the emphasis on the all-male requirement has gradually diminished, with the word now being used to describe student fraternities or writers’ fraternities, which can include both males and females. Thus, there seems to be no gender bias in the word.
On the other hand, sorority is a word that was coined to create an equivalent term for female-only organizations. The word was first used in 1874 to describe an all-female society called Gamma Phi Beta at Syracuse University. However, despite the existence of the word sorority, some female societies and organizations still prefer to be called women’s fraternities.
Key Takeaways
- Fraternity initially denoted all-male societies, but its usage has become more gender-neutral over time.
- Sorority was coined as an equivalent term for female-only organizations, but some still prefer to be called women’s fraternities.
- Members of a fraternity are referred to as brothers, while members of a sorority are referred to as sisters.
