Finding a Hidden Woman’s Career in Midlife
Are you about to re-enter the job market or do you want to change careers? Have you retired but want to stay active and earn an income? Do you love your independence?
There is an ideal career for mature women between the ages of 40 and 70, one that you may have never heard of before. Consider becoming a sorority house director.
Imagine finding a new career in midlife that doesn’t discriminate based on age or gender!
Being a sorority housewife has been a rewarding career for thousands of mature single women, who find themselves alone by choice or circumstance. Maybe you’re a baby boomer about to retire, but you want to remain self-sufficient. Or you are adventurous and want to see different parts of the US from a safe point of view. Or you own your home in one part of the country, but want to spend time near your grandchildren who live in another part. Or you need to find work after a divorce, death, layoff, or foreclosure. Perhaps you don’t have the up-to-date skills to make an abrupt return to the workforce. However, you want freedom and security and a job you can love at the same time!
Believe it or not, your maturity, wisdom, and life experience are assets in this occupation. You also benefit from experience and skills gained from previous jobs that carry over to administrative staff and a large house. It could be the right opportunity for you.
an unexpected lifestyle
A sorority house mother (house manager) not only receives a salary, but also a beautiful house, meals, utilities, security, cleaning service and yard work for her. Is there anything better than that? Yeah! You live in a vibrant college community brimming with cultural events, often in the friendliest and safest area of campus.
What if you weren’t a sorority sister?
Your own upbringing may be as far removed from the sorority world as you can imagine. But the reality is that while the board of directors, advisors, directors, and treasurer are all former adult members of each sorority house, housewives rarely have such an affiliation.
The fact that you have no knowledge of what this job is because you have no traditional sorority background may make you wonder.
But if this job sounds intriguing to you, join the thousands of older women across America who tend to beautiful old mansions, inhabited by young women in that middle stage maturing from adolescence to young adulthood. It’s a special niche where you can live comfortably, while also providing a safe haven for colleagues at the start of their careers.
What is a Brotherhood?
The Greek idea actually began in 1776 at William and Mary College in Williamsburg, VA. This male fraternity began as a literary and social group at a local tavern. A young Thomas Jefferson was part of it. The students wanted to discuss ideas not approved by their professors. To protect themselves from school spies, they developed secret rituals. More of these clubs sprang up at other universities over the next century, evolving into Phi Beta Kappa.
It was not until 1851 that a fraternity for women would appear. In Greek, the word brotherhood actually means brothers or sisters. So today, some of the older girl groups are officially known as fraternities. The word brotherhood is not Greek at all; comes from the Latin for sisters. Women’s organizations were inspired by early Greek men’s groups: they include a degree of secrecy and rituals; there is an initiation ceremony; members take an oath of allegiance to the group; and adopt a motto. Of course, the goal is to create a strong bond of friendship and support academic excellence.
Today, the Greek system is the largest philanthropic organization in the country. In addition to maintaining their academic studies, students raise millions of dollars for charity.
The Beginning of Secret Societies for Women
Why did it take so long for sororities to appear? Only men had the privilege of enjoying higher education until the mid-19th century; in fact, during colonial times, girls were educated at home in the Dames Schools.
The first young women who fought for the privilege of attending all-male colleges were notable. Society was so different then. Women had no right to property, their children, the vote, or even to work outside the home. They themselves were considered property. Those exceptional pioneer girls and their supporting families must have a truly valuable education.
The first women’s secret society was formed at a southern university in 1851, Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia. It took many years for the concept to be accepted at conservative New England universities.
Given the sometimes hostile reception these adolescent girls received from male teachers and classmates in higher education, it is not surprising that these small groups of girls banded together for support. These little societies really existed to help each other academically, socially, and emotionally. The bonds of friendship were close, as they used to be in previous centuries. But these young women faced strong resistance to their mere presence and success. Their loyalty to that first support group remained strong throughout their lives. The fraternities (the word sorority was not used until 1874) they formed and nurtured exist in chapters across the continent in this modern 21st century.
When you look at the photos of these determined trailblazers on older sorority websites, it’s hard to imagine that those demure girls with their updos and lace collars were feisty. They were dedicated to the love of learning!
In this day and age of post-feminism, the beloved, aging sorority houses still stand at universities and colleges across the country. They need to take care of themselves, manage their staff, order food, mow the lawn, and you can be the one running all of this.
Pass this information on to your mature female friends.
If you don’t need that position, share this information with a friend. Pass it on to your mom, an aunt, a single woman who would enjoy a home and a job and most importantly her own independence! This race has certainly hurt women for over a century and a half.