Abstract
This study examines how intrasexual competition among women operates more broadly in society, using sororities as a case study because their highly visible hierarchies make these dynamics especially easy to observe. While evolutionary theories of mate copying, homophily, and status help explain why competition can arise, the social conditions women navigate play an even larger role. In many contexts, including Greek life, women are expected to demonstrate their value within systems shaped by male preferences, attention, and control. Sorority culture makes this especially visible: hierarchies are public, desirability is constantly evaluated, and male approval influences women’s social opportunities. A survey of 44 college-aged students examined perceptions of attractiveness, popularity, and rivalry. Sorority women repeatedly reported heightened comparison, pressure, and competition, particularly when desirable men were present. Fraternity men reinforced these dynamics by consistently linking women’s social prominence to attractiveness and by rewarding behaviors that align with male-defined standards. These patterns show how women often navigate male-dominated environments to maintain status, even when doing so supports restrictive gender norms. Responses from non-members further reveal how female competition is widely assumed to be natural, obscuring the role of the patriarchy in producing it. Overall, the findings suggest that competition between women is less inherent and more a reflection of gendered systems that tie women’s social value to male recognition, with sororities providing a concentrated example of these broader societal pressures.