Hazing In Ancient Greece

Hazing Students in every school are often encouraged to engage in clubs and other extracurricular activities whether they be school related or not. However, the teachers and other people who encourage students do not take into consideration the risks of joining these clubs. Becoming a part of a group or team can look good on a resume or be a source of entertainment, with no doubt, but in joining the group or organization, there is a risk of being hazed. The formal definition of hazing is an initiation process involving harassment (Merriam-Webster). Many organizations, especially college sororities and fraternities, haze their pledges upon initiation. Regardless of the pledges’ willingness, they are often forced to drink a large amount of alcohol, …show more content…
The roots of hazing are firmly placed in ancient Greece, in which Spartans have been said to have used hazing for initiating young soldiers. “They would publicly whip them to see who could endure the punishment the longest without screaming” (Ktenas). The boys would sometimes withstand the pain from the flogging to the point of death. However, if a child screamed out in pain sooner than other children, that child was ridiculed and teased because he was not as strong as the other Spartan boys. The Spartan soldiers did things like this to children because of their culture. Spartans were known for being aggressive in war. The floggings and other abuses like partial starvation were meant to help the boys when they went to war. War conditions were not always ideal. For example, men often died due to starvation. By giving the boys smaller amounts of food, the Spartans were attempting to help them through the wars that they would …show more content…
Hazing also occurs in many careers.
Hazing is often an attempt to show power and control. Many organizations that are known for hazing new members have been that way for many years. “Tradition is central to Greek life” (“Why We Haze”). People in groups and clubs haze because they believe that they can gain respect from other members by bullying pledges. Hazing is sometimes performed to show the strength of the new member. The column, “Why We Haze,” also stated that, “Shared experience leads to bonding and cohesion.” A variety of acts can take place in a hazing process and there is supposed to be a purpose for them. However, does there seem to be any purpose behind sexual assault, forced drinking, or other actions similar to these? Physical and mental harm or even death are possible due to the process of hazing. Actions performed by pledges for initiation into a club can have differing