Organizational Ideology and Institutional Problem-Solving: Hazing Within Black Fraternities
77 Pages Posted: 8 May 2020
Date Written: April 14, 2020
Abstract
Hazing has been a persistent issue in collegiate fraternities and sororities for generations. In forty-four states, legislatures have passed anti-hazing statutes. However, the law has not meaningfully curtailed said conduct. That is because, at least in part, organizations have ideologies — just like people — that range from conservative to liberal. These institutional, ideological worldviews arguably influence the ways in which organizations approach problems like hazing. Here, we contend that the extent to which hazing exists and persists in black fraternities, by way of example, is at least partially a result of the conservative or liberal ideology within these organizations and around this issue. As such, we explore the history of hazing within black fraternities. Also, we explore the various ways in which conservatives and liberals differ according to social scientists. We apply these findings to differences in how members and leaders of black fraternities view and approach hazing.
Keywords: hazing, race, fraternities, ideology
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