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The Company He Keeps

A History of White College Fraternities

Nicholas L. Syrett

Publisher: University of North Carolina Press
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press
Published: 03/2009
Pages: 432
Subject: Social Science, Education, History | University of North Carolina
Print ISBN: 9.78E+12
eBook ISBN: 9780807888704

DESCRIPTION

Tracing the full history of traditionally white college fraternities in America from their days in antebellum all-male schools to the sprawling modern-day college campus, Nicholas Syrett reveals how fraternity brothers have defined masculinity over the course of their 180-year history. Based on extensive research at twelve different schools and analyzing at least twenty national fraternities, The Company He Keeps explores many factors--such as class, religiosity, race, sexuality, athleticism, intelligence, and recklessness--that have contributed to particular versions of fraternal masculinity at different times. Syrett demonstrates the ways that fraternity brothers' masculinity has had consequences for other students on campus as well, emphasizing the exclusion of different groups of classmates and the sexual exploitation of female college students.