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ABSTRACT SAPPIE, ALISON MARIE. Objectification of Women in The ABSTRACT SAPPIE, ALISON MARIE. Objectification of Women in the Greek System: Intersectionality and Cross Council Comparisons (Under the direction of Dr. Edwin Gerler). Examining the phenomenon of objectification of women in Greek life through the lens of intersectionality, the first step toward making impactful changes that are effective for all members of the Greek community. This research study uses a phenomenological approach to depict the essence of objectification in the four Greek councils. The research questions of “What role does council membership and race play in male college students’ experiences of objectification of women in the Greek System? What role does council membership and race play in women college students’ experiences of self-objectification in the Greek System? In what ways is objectification similar and different when comparing Greek councils?” are examined through the voices of the participants. Eight Greek students, two from each council, participated in individual in-depth interviews to capture how objectification in Greek life is impacted by the intersection of gender and race in the councils. At the conclusion of the data analysis, six themes emerged to structure their experiences: (a) new members joining, (b) social status, (c) structures that support objectification (d) segregation of councils by race, (e) diverse versus monolithic, and (f) protective factors against objectification. These six structural themes included textural subthemes describing the phenomenon within each structure. The findings were presented comparing and contrasting the gender, race, and intersection of these two demographics for the participants. By examining the relationships between Greek councils and looking at objectification from different lenses in one study, a fuller picture of objectification in Greek life emerged. Both racial and gender factors shaped how women in Greek life were objectified and self-objectified. The implications of these research findings can be applied to the counseling profession, professionals on a college campus, and empirically supported interventions. © Copyright 2018 by Alison Marie Sappie All Rights Reserved Objectification of Women in the Greek System: Intersectionality and Cross Council Comparisons by Alison Marie Sappie A dissertation submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Counseling and Counselor Education Raleigh, North Carolina 2018 APPROVED BY: Dr. Edwin Gerler Dr. Marc Grimmett Committee Chair Dr. Helen Lupton-Smith Dr. Angela Smith ii DEDICATION I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Paul and Kerry Sappie. Without your unwavering support and unconditional belief in my dreams from the moment I was born, this dissertation would not have been possible. When I was young, I though everyone had parents who did all the things you have and continue to do for me. I have come to realize the significance and rarity of your incredible love and type of parents you are, which molded me into the woman I am today. Throughout this process I have reflected on who I am as a scholar and counselor and how so many people have paved the way for me to be in this moment and write this dissertation. I could never name all the activists, researchers, family members, friends, and support systems that have led me here, but I will use the words of my grandmother, Patricia Lee Sappie, from her diary and editorial she wrote to offer a glimpse into what they have taught me. I believe very strongly that God gives to each of us a gift and I believe mine was to see the goodness in others. Part of seeing that goodness is celebrating what makes each of us different and valuing those qualities equally. When I was ten or eleven and attending a church service in Kentucky, a woman stood up and thanked God she was not born black. Even at my fairly young age, God gave me the wisdom to see this as wrong. I’m sure changes must be made. In the workplace, are women not worth as much as a man if we perform the same tasks? Will we be given the opportunity to prove ourselves? In places of worship, aren’t we taught in the Kingdom of God there is no male no female? Then why is our Holy Mother Church so dominated by men? Women make no decisions at the highest levels. I don’t think God really approves of this. iii On my journey through life, I’ve failed, big and little, but the times I’ve been lukewarm is my greatest regret. I am proud that I am a woman and especially proud that many women have found the time to support the rights of a large segment of our population. Change can be accomplished through love, peace, understanding, and probably a little firmness. Her thoughts and words in her diary and local editorial regarding gender and racial equality still apply today and continue to inspire me to continue this work into the rest of my career. iv BIOGRAPHY Alison Sappie pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from North Carolina State University. It was during this time as an undergraduate student where she first identified her passion for helping others through her coursework, career assessment, and work with the Industrial and Organizational Psychology Lab. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree, she began graduate coursework in counseling at East Carolina University. During this time, she assisted in opening the McClammy Counseling Laboratory, the counselor education program’s first on- site counseling training clinic. In addition, she served a diverse range of clients in both community mental health and university settings. She earned her master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from East Carolina University in the summer of 2013. As a doctoral student at North Carolina State University, Alison engaged in diverse experiences to expand her teaching, research, and counseling skills. She counseled students on academic probation, worked with college students below the national poverty level, and in the Fraternity and Sorority Life office at Duke University. There she was able to serve Greek students through mentorship, advising, and programming. Alison was able to combine her research interests with her practice through (a) programming that addressed cultural norms that promote gender violence, (b) organizing a luncheon series for Greek women that brought together women of all ages and roles on campus for fellowship and discussion with the Duke Women’s Center, (c) teaching a Greek emerging leaders course focusing on social justice and bystander intervention, and (d) supporting the It’s On Us campaign in the Greek community. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS There have been so many people who have provided me with guidance and support throughout my journey as a doctoral student and during the dissertation process. I cannot thank them enough for believing in me or the ways they have touched my life. To my father, Paul, thank you for showing me how women deserve to be treated by the world and passing along your love of planning. To my mother, Kerry, thank you for modeling selfless compassion and how to be there for others unconditionally. To my brother, Brian, thank you for teaching me to always stand up for myself and what I believe. To my grandparents, Edgar and Elaine, thank you for instilling in me the importance of education and helped me in endless ways to reach my goals. To my grandparents, Paul and Patricia, thank you for fighting for gender and racial equality and passing that legacy on to me. To Brendan, thank you for challenging me to grow and the encouragement to step outside my comfort zone to experience all life has to offer. To Madison, thank you for teaching me you don’t always have to be perfect, you just have to show up for the ones you love. To Robin, thank you to showing me that self-care really matters, leading me to grow, and being a shining example of the important work of our counseling profession. To Aisha Al-Qimlass, Beth Davis, Beth Vincent, and Giovanni Haertel, my amazing NCSU classmates, thank you for being by my side every step of the way through the ups and downs of this journey. I would not have survived without you. vi To my fraternity and sorority life colleagues, thank you for welcoming me into your world with open arms and pushing me grow. To my advisor and committee chair, Dr. Edwin Gerler, thank you for your dedication, encouragement, and steadfast belief that I could do this, along with your sacrifice of not retiring before I finished. To my committee members, Dr. Marc Grimmett, Dr. Helen Lupton-Smith, and Dr. Angela Smith, thank you for your invaluable perspectives on my dissertation and endless compassion throughout this process. To the greater Counselor Education faculty and staff, thank you for your time in and out of the classroom and for turning me into a researcher. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... xi CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 1 Need and Rationale for the Study ................................................................................................. 2 Significance of the Study ............................................................................................................. .2 Research Questions .....................................................................................................................
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