White Boy Wasted: Compensatory Masculinities in Fraternity Alcohol Use
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Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/ Sorority Advisors Volume 10 Issue 2 Article 4 January 2015 White Boy Wasted: Compensatory Masculinities in Fraternity Alcohol Use Pietro Sasso Monmouth University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/oracle Part of the Higher Education Commons Recommended Citation Sasso, Pietro (2015) "White Boy Wasted: Compensatory Masculinities in Fraternity Alcohol Use," Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors: Vol. 10 : Iss. 2 , Article 4. DOI: https://doi.org/10.25774/jx3s-2j12 Available at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/oracle/vol10/iss2/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors by an authorized editor of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Sasso: White Boy Wasted: Compensatory Masculinities in Fraternity Alcoho WHITE BOY WASTED: COMPENSATORY MASCULINITIES IN FRATERNITY ALCOHOL USE Pietro SASSO Alcohol misuse by members of collegiate fraternal organizations has been cited as a significant issue (Wall, 2008). Current research indicates that specifically fraternities consume the most alcohol of any traditional undergraduate student cohort by frequency and volume. However, the current research literature does not discuss how alcohol is used by fraternity members. This study seeks to understand how alcohol is misused through understanding the personal narratives of fraternity members utilizing qualitative inquiry triangulated through interviews and observation. Consistent with previous research, it was found that alcohol use as a compensatory performed masculinity supports a hegemonic social structure reinforced by liquid bonding, competition, acculturation, sex, hegemonic masculinity. Suggestions are provided regarding how to reframe the fraternity experience. Within the traditional student population of that alcohol use within fraternities is a significant those 18-24, alcohol is the most popular drug issue (Caudill et al., 2006; Wechsler, Lee, Kuo, & and its consumption features widespread mis- Lee, 2000). Single institution studies also reveal use. Aggregate data from several major studies a campus-based concern (Lo & Globetti, 1995; paint a vivid picture of collegiate alcohol misuse Caron, Moskey, & Hovey, 2004). (Johnston, O’Malley, & Bachman, 2007; Presley, Meilman, & Cashin, 1996; Wechsler, Lee, Kuo, Policies Seibring, Nelson & Lee., 2001). Alcohol use by Qualitative research suggests that fraterni- fraternity members is cited as an exemplified ties serve as an access point to obtain alcohol or bastion for undergraduate misuse and abuse. are often simply associated with its distribution, Therefore, this issue continues to serve as a sig- essentially suggesting through undertone that nificant area of concern for college administra- fraternity chapters serve as nothing more than tors of which men, particularly male fraternity speakeasies (Fabian, Toomey, Lenk, & Erickson, members, have been cited as a primary popula- 2008). Research suggests that most institutional tion necessitating intervention. This study will responses in the form of policies have been in- provide an extensive literature review to serve effective as mandating dry housing (Crosse, as pretext to a qualitative ethnographic study Ginexi, & Caudill, 2006), banning common which indicates that fraternity men engage in source containers such as kegs (Kilmer, Larimer, compensatory masculinities which is a response Parks, Dimeff, & Marlatt, 1999) have all been to hegemonic male ideology. Implications for ineffective or inconsistent. Kilmer et al. (1999) practice are also suggested for fraternity/soror- also observed that if there are policies in place to ity advisors. restrict alcohol use, fraternity members will in- crease their levels of binge drinking. Additionally, Alcohol Use in Fraternities educational programs have limited effectiveness in addressing fraternity alcohol misuse (Wall, Research has suggested that alcohol use, 2006). Therefore, most measures and attempts more specifically binge drinking, is a major is- to control alcohol misuse such as binge drink- sue within fraternities (Farlie, et al., 2010; Long ing have not resulted in the decrease of alcohol & Snowden, 2011). Larger studies also indicate consumption levels sought by institutions (Wall, Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Vol. 10, Issue 1 • Summer 2015 14 Published by W&M ScholarWorks, 2015 1 Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors, Vol. 10 [2015], Iss. 2, Art. 4 Reis, & Bureau, 2012). This failure is indicative of sorority members (Eberhardt, Rice, & Smith, the numerous social aspects of fraternity life that 2003). This supports the notion that sororities can create an environment conducive to exces- also demonstrate misuse of alcohol, albeit not to sive alcohol use (Glindermann & Geller, 2003; same degree as fraternity members (Huchting, Miley & Frank, 2006; Paschall & Saltz, 2007). Lac, & LaBrie, 2008). Population Comparisons Culture When compared to other groups, fraternities Fraternity chapters have been defined as have been found to consume more than their un- subcultures by Danielson, Taylor, and Hartford affiliated peers (Alva, 1998; Barry, 2007; Sher, (2001) and within many chapters, alcohol is Bartholow, & Nanda, 2001; Wechsler et al., central to the fraternity experience (Workman, 1996). Pace and McGrath (2002) reported that 2001). This cultural association between alcohol fraternity and sorority members drank more and the fraternity experience is so strong, that than other students who were active in volunteer being a fraternity member is predictive of in- organizations. These highly involved students creased alcohol consumption (Sher, Bartholow, are often referred to as student leaders within & Nanda, 2001). Fraternities have even been student affairs divisions and have been found to coined as addictive organizations by Arnold increase their alcohol consumption as a result (1995). Moreover, further research indicates that of their involvement (Theall, DeJong, Scribner, members self-select into fraternities because of Mason, Schneider, & Simonsen, 2009). Martin precollege drinking characteristics (DeSimone, et al. (2009) suggested these social experiences 2009; Juth, Smyth, Thompson, & Nodes, 2010; connected with alcohol consumption are associ- O’Connor, Cooper, & Thiel, 1996; Park, Sher, ated with a high cost for the general traditional Wood, & Krull, 2009). This focus on alcohol ex- student population which has been found to in- ists because its use is attributed to social status as creasingly invest considerable financial resourc- the heaviest-drinking chapters are perceived as es. holding greater prestige (Larimer, Irvine, Kilm- It has also been suggested that fraternity and er, & Marlatt, 1997). Within fraternity chapters, sorority members drink just as much or more alcohol is utilized to help sustain bonds of broth- than student-athletes (Meilman, Leichliter, & erhood (Wechsler, Kuh, & Davenport, 1996). Al- Presley, 1999) which supports the notion that cohol is used in the recruitment and socialization student-athletes have significant concerns re- of new members into the chapter culture, which lated to alcohol misuse (Wechsler, Davenport, assists in the perpetuation of problems from one Dowdall, & Grossman, 1997). generation of members to the next; thus, join- Members living in fraternity house also con- ing a fraternity or sorority has become a predic- sume more than those off-campus or within resi- tor for increasing alcohol consumption as alco- dence halls (Larimer, Anderson, Baer, & Marlatt, hol use is culturally ingrained (Arnold & Kuh, 2000; Page & O’Hegarty, 2006). Fraternity 1992). This culturally ingrained use of alcohol members also are the largest consumers of all within fraternities has led to distorted in-group students on “game-day” events before a major norms specifically related to alcohol. Much of college athletics events (Glassman, Dodd, Sheu, this cultural phenomenon is mirrored largely by Rienzo, & Wagenaar, 2010). issues related to masculinity and gender. Fraternity and sorority members reported more alcohol use than their unaffiliated counter- Masculinity in Fraternities parts, and fraternity men reported more use and more negative secondary effects of alcohol than The collegiate environment has been connect- Oracle: The Research Journal of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors Vol. 10, Issue 1 • Summer 2015 https://scholarworks.wm.edu/oracle/vol10/iss2/415 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25774/jx3s-2j12 2 Sasso: White Boy Wasted: Compensatory Masculinities in Fraternity Alcoho ed to increased alcohol consumption as afore- ance (Connell, 1987; Connell & Messerschmidt, mentioned within this literature review section; 2005). Among men in contemporary Western however, it is also connected to images of gender societies, these cultural norms, have been char- and alcohol use. Further research supports the acterized as young, heterosexually active, eco- notion that fraternities are a reflection of a larger nomically successful, athletically inclined, and issue of alcohol connected to masculinity and self-assured (Connell, 1987). These norms fa- gender with alcohol use. College campuses have cilitate a demand characteristic that encourages