Sororities serve the purpose of fostering a sisterhood and encouraging a shared closeness within a group of women that a member may not normally experience. Sororities encourage lifetime friendships among women who share common interests. A sorority member will gain not just a group friends, but an extended family. Also, women can expect to gain a group of women with whom to network beyond college, and well into their careers.
Sororities help women to handle the role of a leader, while developing interpersonal skills at the same time. Many sororities have authority-holding offices within their organization, such as president or co-president. Women can learn how to effectively lead amongst a sympathetic group. Also, many sororities encourage scholastic achievement among its members, thus a woman can develop herself academically as well.
Sorority membership encourages working together with others, and putting effort towards teamwork. Thus, women learn teamwork skills they can use in other aspects of their lives, such as in the classroom or at work.
Sororities give women the opportunity to participate in philanthropy and community service. Sororities often coordinate service projects and social functions. These help women to develop a spirit of volunteerism and civic responsibility. Thus sororities serve the purpose of giving back to the college campus and the surrounding community.