Bound By a Mighty Vow: Sisterhood and Women's Fraternities, 1870-1920

by Diana B. Turk

A look at the intricate history of collegiate women's support networks―otherwise known as sororities

Sororities are often thought of as exclusive clubs for socially inclined college students, but Bound by a Mighty Vow , a history of the women's Greek system, demonstrates that these organizations have always served more serious purposes. Diana Turk explores the founding and development of the earliest sororities (then called women's fraternities) and explains how these groups served as support networks to help the first female collegians succeed in the hostile world of nineteenth century higher education.

Turk goes on to look at how and in what ways sororities changed over time. While the first generation focused primarily on schoolwork, later Greek sisters used their fraternity connections to ensure social status, gain access to jobs and job training, and secure financial and emotional support as they negotiated life in turn-of-the-century America. The costs they paid were conformity to certain tightly prescribed beliefs of how "ideal" fraternity women should act and what "ideal" fraternity women should do.

Drawing on primary source documents written and preserved by the fraternity women themselves, as well as on oral history interviews conducted with fraternity officers and alumnae members, Bound by a Mighty Vow uncovers the intricate history of these early women's networks and makes a bold statement about the ties that have bound millions of American women to one another in the name of sisterhood.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

251 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly formative study of the history of sororities

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars
As a historian, I think that this was a well-written albeit brief survey. I question her tendency to apply the history of Kappa Alpha Theta to all NPC sororities. I am curious to know why she chose Theta to focus on, as she is not affiliated. I wonder if that happened to be who would let her have access to their archives.
As a fraternity woman (Alpha Gamma Delta), I was less impressed. I believe that the first generation women's organisations do generally follow the history set out. However, the second generation organisations, such as Alpha Gam, were founded for different reasons that she didn't address. I even wanted to know more about Theta Phi Alpha and others that were formed later, and slim to none. Overall, it is interesting but more so to Thetas.

[Samantha Sink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cool to know more about the women's fraternity I am apart of. It was educational to learn why women's fraternities formed and just what the culture was during that time in history for women in college.

[Holly · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a high school student, I did not find this book particularly entertaining. The mountainous feel was set in place by the author’s tone. Their was a continual stringing together of facts, and quotes from outside resources. Yes indeed this book is nonfiction, but the author gives no characters, or setting to follow. The only sense of consistency in the reading was the progression of the the first sorority Kappa Alpha Theta. The flow of this book is similar to textbooks found in the classroom. A set of footnotes followed by some pictures, and dates. All though this book was not intriguing to read, it did do a phenomenal job of educating. If the reader is in it to learn about the origin of female fraternities, or motives of greek life, then this is an appropriate book. Diana B.Turk (the author) focuses on breaking stereotypes that society has created for college greek life. She does so by educating the reader about the motives, and charitable actions at the core of every sorority. She stresses that these tight knit group of girls serve a more serious purpose than just planning social events. This book follows the developmental and foundational steps made to create support networks for some of the worlds first collegiate women. As a high school student, I did not find this book captivating, but I found it was just the book I needed to read to gain background knowledge on sororities, and to successfully complete an ethnography project.

[Betsy Whitehead · Rating 1 out of 5]

Our Theta alumnae group decided to read this and discuss at a meeting. Not one of us read the whole book! It had more footnotes than actual writing. It was the author just stringing together quotes from other sources. I was horribly disappointed! This was much more a research paper of the author's than a story or history of fraternities.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and found this book to be utterly amazing. I read it shortly after my new member period and learned a ton about sorority life and the history of my sorority. I would suggest this book to anyone in Student Affairs or anyone interested in the history of sororities.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history contained in this book is very interesting. Written by an unaffiliated women researching mostly only the history of Kappa Alpha Theta, the conclusions she draws must be read with a critical eye. This is not the whole picture albeit one interesting perspective.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read the first chapter and lost interest. I skimmed the rest and reviewed the notes. It is much more a book about the history of Kappa Alpha Theta. It is well researched and a well accounted history along with being unbiased.

[Kylie Towers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous - if only because it came out at the same time as that trashy book "Pledged." Finally some historic validity to a seemingly dated institution that has so much to give. Figure that one out...

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am very much enjoying this book. A little different, as it it is about a fairly narrow topic, but I am learning a lot!!

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book for work

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome! Well researched.