TO THE EDITOR:
As a young woman born and raised in North Carolina, attending UNC had always been a dream of mine. In the fall of 2011, my chance came to be a student there. I transferred in as a junior and tried to do all the things a new Tar Heel is supposed to do, including rushing a sorority.
However, my Greek life experience became less than idyllic. During the spring of 2012, I was a victim of weight-based discrimination in my sorority.
Even though I had always had issues with my weight, I had always done what I wanted to do, regardless of what my body looked like.
My sorority put this to the test. The sisters in charge of the coordinated outfits we wore during rush had decided on pieces that did not come in my size.
When this was discovered, instead of finding a solution to make me happy (like letting me be involved during the other rounds), they chose to put me in a “kitchen job” where I wouldn’t be seen by the potential new members as they went through the house.
Even though they technically included me by giving me something to do, I felt betrayed by the group I had tried to give my best to; they were hiding me because I didn’t fit the perfect image of a woman they were trying to project.
Instead of anger, I first felt shame that I could, literally, never embody an image that was up to their standards. The anger came later, when my guilt and frustration was met by sisters who acted as if I should suck it up, be happy they gave me anything to do, consider myself lucky to be part of such an exclusive group in the first place.
By the time I returned in the fall, I was angry and bitter but had never formally complained.
I didn’t want to start a confrontation, and I didn’t want to lose contact with the few good friends I had made. Because I felt judged at the house, I quit going, and I lost a support system that I had come to depend on.
