The Benefits of Friends

“A captivating book that expertly incorporates historical and contemporary literature from a variety of disciplines. With these strengths and the relevance of the topic to college students, the book could be used in a variety of sociology courses to examine how traditions, gender dynamics, and sexual expression are affected by power, prestige, racism, misogyny, classism, and organizational memberships.”—Contemporary Sociology

“Useful for readers seeking to understand the wide array of social and cultural dynamics that emerge in spaces of concentrated privilege. . . . [A] useful addition to undergraduate courses focused on gender, sexuality, and/or social inequalities.”—Gender & Society

“Essential . . . . Mathews digs deep into a world below the surface of publicly marketed university life, engaging readers in conversation regarding the future of these organizations, which both critics and advocates of Greek life can appreciate. Mathews brings together research, thoughtful reflection, and personal accounts with a captivating style. Campus leaders will value the opportunity for campus discussion alongside potential research topics with an in-depth bibliography for students. This is necessary reading for higher education professionals.”—CHOICE

“Mathews didn’t want to make an argument for whether to abolish Greek-life
organizations, as some have recently called for. She instead dove deeply into how fraternity and sorority relationships can uplift students while also perpetuating harm—with the goal of prompting a more informed conversation about the future of the groups.”—The Chronicle of Higher Education

“Engrossing and smart, Mathews’s fresh insights on contemporary, white, Greek letter organizations left me thinking even after I had put aside the book.”—Diana B. Turk, author of Bound by a Mighty Vow

“Mathews’s engaging book will appeal to the Greek system’s biggest critics and fans. Astute and persuasive, Mathews helps outsiders understand fraternities and sororities' perennial appeal; she also shows how they can mend their ways.”—Nicholas L. Syrett, author of The Company He Keeps: A History of White College Fraternities