A sorority is a female-only association comprised of women who have common interests or who share a common trait. The most famous form of the sorority is probably the North American college sorority, although college sororities can be found in other regions of the world as well. Women can also form social sororities outside of the college framework. The goal of a sorority is to create a group of women who are bonded by their common membership.

In the sense of a college sorority, prospective members usually attend sorority events during a period early in the semester which is designated as “rush week.” During rush week, people can visit numerous sororities to get a feel for each one's members and style. If people want to join a sorority, they submit an application, and the existing members vote on the applications at the end of rush week, using their interactions with prospective members as a guideline. Many sororities also have academic requirements, such as a minimum grade point average.

Once accepted into a sorority, new members undergo initiation to become full members. Initiations at sororities and fraternities are infamous, and some colleges have enacted rules which are designed to protect student safety in initiations. Dangerous hazing activities are often explicitly banned, and pledges are informed that they have the right to refuse to participate in initiation activities which conflict with their safety or religious beliefs. Despite this, initiation can be dangerous or traumatizing for some young women.

Most sororities are identified with Greek letters which are often linked with their mottoes. Some examples of famous sororities include Alpha Delta Pi, the oldest sorority, along with Alpha Omicron Pi, Alpha Gamma Delta, and Alpha Kappa Alpha.

Members of sororities are entitled to certain benefits, including residence in a sorority house, access to scholarships, and the ability to network with current sorority members and alumni. Many women also enjoy the support network of a group of women who share common bonds. Sorority sisters also work together on projects, most notably charity projects which benefit the chosen cause of the sorority.

Sorority life is often stereotyped by people who have not participated in a sorority, and sorority members are sometimes dismissed as airheaded or stupid. In fact, sororities do a great deal of good for their communities and members, and sorority members are often extremely intelligent and motivated women who excel in leadership, sports, and academics.