CULTURE
RushTok: How Social Media Impacts Our Sense of Style and Sense of Self
Op-Ed
By: Eliza Brown Edited By: Rezi Ubogu
At the end of my senior year of high school, I committed to a college in the South, and, like so many other girls, eagerly awaited sorority recruitment. Over the past few years, Greek life social media content, specifically Tiktok’s ‘Rushtok’ content, has flooded my social media feed. The most popular were OOTD (outfit of the day) videos for sorority recruitment, which shaped my perception of what a “sorority girl” should look like. These videos gave me inspiration for my own recruitment wardrobe, leading me to subconsciously believe I needed to look a certain way to fit in with my peers.
When the time came to pick out clothing for sorority recruitment, I felt as though I needed to reevaluate my personal style. Growing up in Massachusetts, then moving to the South for college, I felt compelled to change to fit the idealized Southern aesthetic I saw on social media. I styled my hair differently, bought game-day dresses, and my recruitment outfits were brightly colored – this all felt far from my usual style. For example, during the second round of recruitment, I wore a mid-length floral dress, yet I felt uncomfortable because my outfit did not feel like it aligned with my typical style. Looking back at pictures from my time at this school, I hardly recognize myself. Social media, especially RushTok, impacted my sense of self; I believed that I had to change my style to fit into Greek life.
Picture of writer Eliza Brown in one of her rush outfits
I later realized this was not true. Despite altering my style, I never felt like I belonged, and this feeling eventually led me to transfer to Syracuse University. Since this transition, my confidence has grown, and my personal style has evolved. The difference is I no longer feel the need to conform. I have had the opportunity to embrace my personal style, with less reliance on social media. It is clear that my clothing mirrors Northeast trends, and when I look around the Syracuse campus, I can easily see people with similar styles to my own. In contrast to southern school’s, Syracuse has less of a focus on a specific “Greek life look,” and my personal style is reflected in the students I see at Syracuse. It is not about conforming at Syracuse, but instead, I have found a place where my personal style thrives.
When I search “Southern Rush Outfits” on TikTok, the videos show girls in brightly colored outfits, with lots of ruffles and patterns. In contrast, when I search “Syracuse Rush Outfits,” the results reveal clothing that is more neutral and understated. This clear difference in style contributes to the idea that a person needs to fit a certain look to belong. This false perception might be one of the reasons I ultimately transferred—I felt I needed to change myself, and in the process I felt detached from the person I had become.
As a potential new member (PNM), searching for “rush outfits” was an obsession for me, as I’m sure is the case for many women anticipating sorority rush. A student from San Diego shares her experience with recruitment with The Red & Black, the student-led newspaper for the University of Georgia, “‘I had to kind of shift what I thought was fashionable, take on a new sense of fashion, being that Southern fashion is so different from Southern California Fashion.’” This is exactly how I felt as I changed my style in an attempt to fit into Southern culture. Sorority recruitment is about finding a place where you belong and finding a shared community, yet social media and cultural norms often reinforce the idea that you have to conform to fit in.
This past January, I had the chance to experience the other side of recruitment as an active sorority member. I did not overthink my outfits, because I was already a member of my chapter. With firsthand experience of sorority recruitment at a school in the South versus the North, I noticed how the overall aesthetic differs. Fashion is essential to me, and establishing a personal style that reflects who I am has been a critical part of my college journey. After experiencing recruitment at two very different schools, I realized how much social media shapes our perception of fashion.
Now, as an active member in a sorority in the Northeast, I know that the clothing you wear during recruitment should be a representation of your personal style. Wearing what makes you most confident will allow you to present the best version of yourself and connect with others. As a PNM, I felt pressured to dress a certain way to fit in. After reflecting on my experience, I encourage anyone going through recruitment to resist this mindset and embrace your personal style.
This is not meant to be a criticism of sorority recruitment. Instead, I wanted to reflect on the ways that social media forces us to compare ourselves to others and form an idea of who we think we should be. Without “RushTok,” we would not be influenced by what others are wearing, and could uniquely be ourselves.
Through my Greek life experience in both the North and South, I have learned the valuable lesson that having your own personal style will lead you to where you are meant to be—not where you think you should be. I am incredibly grateful for the sisterhood I have found at Syracuse University, which was only possible once I chose to set aside who I thought I should be, and embrace who I really am.
