PODCAST: Sorority Sisterhood Inc.

Robyn Curnow looks past the pink Instagram gloss to understand sororities as institutions: why they exist, what they provide, and why they may matter more than ever for a generation shaped by Covid, social media and isolation.
February 5, 2026
1 min read

I used to think sororities were just a girl-gang cult – then I saw what they really are when my daughter joined one this past month.

Greek sorority life in the US is more than a mean-girl clique or a perky authoritarian cheer squad in pastel and glitter. For millions of America’s young women, sororities are built on loyalty, connection and mutual support.

In this episode of Searching for America, I look past the pink Instagram gloss to understand sororities as institutions: why they exist, what they provide, and why they may matter more than ever for a generation shaped by Covid, social media and isolation. It’s a story about group identity, immigrant instincts and the very American art of building a life sideways – through loyalty, networks and showing up.

If you’ve ever wondered what sororities really are – or why America builds community the way it does – this one’s for you.

Robyn Curnow’s podcast, “Searching for America”, examines the US from her outsider perspective – as a South African living in the American South. 

You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.

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Robyn Curnow

Robyn Curnow is an award-winning broadcaster, foreign correspondent, and speaker with over two decades at CNN.

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