They’re the elite clubs inside America’s universities.
“It’s an investment in yourself, to get an experience you really can’t get anywhere else in the world.” – Ben
They describe themselves as the breeding ground for leadership, with many corporate titans and former US presidents held up as fraternity men. They’re also where testosterone, alcohol and campus life come together in a potent mix.
“Getting girls .It’s probably like the number one thing on their priority list. Sometimes it’s numbers with guys for sure. They go ‘oh how many girls have you had sex with?’” – Jen
And their exploits have become the stuff of movie legend.
“It’s just like an attraction, people come and be like ‘oh my god it’s a stripper pole’ and then come in and have fun.” – Nick
Normally notoriously media shy and protective of their secret rituals, one fraternity agreed to let the cameras in.
“What our goals this week is to really you know, break these guys down… This is something that is strictly within our brotherhood.” – Tim
This film, from the BBC, follows weeks of ‘pledging’ where a group of college kids undergo initiation rituals in the hope of making it as a ‘brother’.
“Pledging is a period before you’re a brother, it’s a kind of a test run to see if the organisation’s actually right for you, you follow the process and then you earn your place in the organisation.” – Jordan
But for all the talk of brotherhoods and loyalty, this culture of secrecy and initiation can be dangerous.
“I want justice because you know, what they did to me was awful.” – Terence
“I woke up in this bed with no clothes on and I had no idea where I was and I was so scared.” – Marissa
And with investigations and lawsuits underway across America over allegations of rape, assault and even death, there are calls for more to be done to reign in frat boy culture.
“For years in this country Americans have been denied the truth about how dangerous fraternities are to young people and families. Most everything in here is filled with files of fraternity death.” – Lawyer
Frat Boys, from the BBC and presented by Sarah Ferguson, goes to air on Monday 26th September at 8.30pm on ABC & iview. It is replayed on Tuesday 27th September at 10.00am and Wednesday 28th at 11pm. It can also be seen on ABC News 24 on Saturday October 1st at 8.00pm AEST and at ABC iview.
