1. Boxers and Bowties: How media affects fraternity men at Omega University
Senior Honors Project
Sean Miller-Gender and Women’s Studies
Mentor Dr. Barbara Logan

2. When freshmen students enter college there is an expectation of how one conforms to the college lifestyle. For some men, that is by joining a collegiate fraternity or a brotherhood of men who have common hobbies and interests. Media, such as Totalfratmove.com, Animal House, and Revenge of the Nerds have contributed to stereotyping of privilege and entitlement among fraternity men. My research will examine how these influences in fraternity culture create and validate the construction and performance of masculinity for "Greek" men. The interviews address three main areas: 1. How being a fraternity man validates their masculinity. 2. The performance of one’s masculinity through the lens of fraternities. 3. How stereotypes and archetypes such as: frat star, frat daddy, and frat boy affects the fraternity man’s relationships with others.
Abstract

3. Conducted 4 interviews with fraternity men from different chapters on Omega University
Used ethnographic methods
Standpoint epistemology-framework that shaped the research project
Methods

4. Limitations to this method
Not all men were interested in the project
Sample size is not a full representation of fraternity men
Research on masculinities and fraternities are limited
Quantitative versus qualitative
Limitations to this method

5. Definitions of Frat boy, Frat Daddy, and Frat Star
Frat Boy: “Definitely 100% media based. Every time you hear from the news you hear ‘It was the Frat Boy’s fault’. Definitely media driven. If your parents are not Greek you are going to hear from the media.
Frat star: A ‘frat star’ is similar to a frat boy but with his reputation being well known among a large number of people on campus, both within and outside the Greek Community
Definitions of Frat boy, Frat Daddy, and Frat Star

6. Definitions of Frat boy, Frat Daddy, and Frat Star
Frat Daddy: To be a frat daddy you must be a frat star. It is a hierarchy. You have two power groups which are the frat stars and the frat daddy. However there is only one frat daddy. The Frat Daddy doesn’t hold office but will attend social committee to plan the newest epic party which he will be attending with many of his sorority counterparts. The sorority females who show up with him have had sex with him and they all know about it.
Definitions of Frat boy, Frat Daddy, and Frat Star

7. “Brother Alpha he is a definitely a frat daddy, he boasts about his sexual encounters but mostly his one night stands. Brother Alpha however partakes in homoerotic activities such as: running around the chapter house naked, helicoptering his penis around in front of everybody and/or mounting somebody and humping them. No one is bothered by this because Brother Alpha validates his masculinity through his sexual encounters”.
The Research Study

8. TotalFratmove.com

10. The Research Study continued
I would recommend to them to look beyond what the media and society overall has portrayed the typical fraternity. Part of college, I believe, is learning to think outside of the box, and I believe that seeing past the concrete image of fraternities would be beneficial for all
The Research Study continued

11. Conclusion Common Threads the interviews depicted:
Fraternity men at Omega University believe that media impacts fraternal masculinities and archetypes
Masculinity is a fluid construction and fraternities provide the perfect space to discover new paths around masculinity studies
More research needs to be conducted around OU’s region
Conclusion

12. ?
Question &Answer