The heartbreaking deaths of Tim Piazza and Kristin High underscore the deadly risks of fraternity and sorority hazing, revealing how gendered practices in hazing not only differ but also lead to distinct psychological and physical consequences. Nineteen-year-old Tim Piazza, a student at Penn State, died after a fraternity ritual at Beta Theta Pi, which involved heavy drinking and physical endurance tasks. This type of hazing, common among male groups, often includes forced drinking, physical challenges, and endurance tests. Tim was made to drink excessive amounts of alcohol, leading to multiple falls and severe injuries to his head and body. Left unattended for hours despite his deteriorating condition, he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. Research indicates that approximately 74% of male incidents involve alcohol, and around 50% involve physical violence. These rituals can lead to trauma, substance use disorders, and, in extreme cases, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Gendered Practices in Hazing: How Hazing Differs for Males and Females
Similarly, Kristin High, a 22-year-old student at California State University, Los Angeles, lost her life during a hazing ritual for Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Unlike the physical endurance focus of male hazing, female hazing often centers on psychological manipulation and social pressures. Kristin and another pledge were taken to the beach at night and forced into physically demanding tasks in the water, leading to their tragic drowning. Female incidents often includes emotional coercion, sleep deprivation, verbal humiliation, and appearance-based criticisms. About 45% of female incidents involve psychological abuse, which can lead to anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Studies show distinct gendered patterns in hazing practices, with male incidents commonly involving binge drinking, physical violence, and endurance tests, aligning with societal expectations of masculinity. Males are often put through high-risk tasks emphasizing aggression and competitiveness, leading to injuries, substance abuse, and emotional suppression. For instance, over half of male incidents involve alcohol or physical abuse, which can result in chronic substance use disorders and PTSD. Males also tend to avoid seeking mental health support afterward, driven by societal expectations to suppress vulnerability. On the other hand, female hazing focuses more on social dynamics, psychological intimidation, and appearance. Between 40% and 60% of female athletes and sorority members report experiences that are mostly social or psychological. This type of hazing can involve public humiliation, acts of servitude, sleep deprivation, and enforced body image scrutiny, often resulting in heightened anxiety, low self-esteem, and body image disorders, such as eating disorders. The social hierarchy in these rituals isolates and demeans female participants, with long-term effects on self-esteem and interpersonal trust.
The differences extend into high school and college hazing experiences. Roughly 55% of college students involved in clubs, sports, and Greek life report being hazed, though many do not recognize it as hazing. Male students are more likely to experience physically aggressive and alcohol-related hazing, while female hazing tends to involve psychological abuse and social exclusion. A University of Maine study found that female high school athletes also encounter hazing that reinforces social hierarchy, with younger athletes often coerced into these practices to gain acceptance. Both male and female students feel pressured to conform, though female students often fear social backlash, deterring them from reporting hazing incidents. For NCAA female athletes, about half report hazing, but unlike male athletes who face more physical violence, female athletes often experience social manipulation and emotional intimidation, emphasizing appearance and bonding through subservience or public embarrassment.
Long-Term Impacts on Health and Well-being
The psychological and physical health outcomes for hazing victims reveal the toll of these experiences. Female hazing victims often suffer from anxiety and depression due to isolation and body shaming, as well as body image issues and eating disorders stemming from appearance-focused hazing. Low self-esteem and social anxiety are common due to demeaning tasks and social hierarchy, making it difficult for victims to form new relationships or trust others. Physically, chronic stress from hazing can result in sleep disturbances, headaches, and digestive issues, with some victims resorting to self-harm as a coping mechanism. Male hazing victims, in contrast, are more prone to substance use disorders due to forced alcohol consumption and face aggression and PTSD from physical hazing. Injuries, such as broken bones and organ damage, and high-risk behaviors extend to other aspects of life.
Gender-Specific Support Strategies for Hazing Survivors
Support strategies for survivors vary by gender. Female survivors may benefit from therapeutic support like individual counseling, group therapy, and body image-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), along with empowerment programs, assertiveness training, and workshops on self-worth to counteract the effects of social manipulation. Male survivors may need trauma-focused CBT to manage PTSD symptoms, substance abuse counseling to address dependency, and peer mentorship programs to reduce the stigma surrounding emotional expression. General support strategies that benefit all survivors include access to counseling, anti-hazing awareness campaigns, and policy reforms on respect and boundaries.
Cultural Norms and Gendered Hazing Practices
Cultural and institutional influences play a significant role in shaping hazing practices and responses. Cultural norms within athletic teams and Greek organizations can foster distinct hazing rituals. In male-dominated environments, hazing often emphasizes physical endurance and aggression, aligning with traditional masculinity ideals. Such practices create a camaraderie that normalizes hazing as a rite of passage essential to team bonding. Conversely, female-centered organizations like sororities often rely on emotional manipulation focused on appearance and social status, perpetuating psychological hazing through tactics like sleep deprivation and public humiliation. Institutional responses also tend to differ based on the nature of hazing incidents and the gender of victims. Physical violence and alcohol-centered male hazing often prompt stronger responses from institutions, given the legal risks and media attention, while female incidents involving psychological abuse are sometimes downplayed or dismissed as less severe. This disparity in response underscores societal biases, with female victims often receiving less support and struggling to report incidents due to fears of dismissal or social repercussions.
The Role of Social Media in Hazing Visibility
The rise of social media has further complicated the visibility of hazing. Male-focused incidents, often more dramatic or violent, attract greater media attention and reinforce stereotypes about masculinity and hazing culture. In contrast, the more private, emotionally manipulative nature of female hazing receives less visibility, leading to misunderstandings about its severity and perpetuating a culture of silence around these experiences. Social media can thus be both a tool for advocacy and a platform where hazing is trivialized, hindering efforts to address it.
The Impact of Advocacy and Legal Reform
Shifts in attitudes toward mental health and anti-harassment initiatives are beginning to reshape hazing culture by acknowledging the psychological impacts on male and female victims alike. Awareness campaigns and educational programs focused on healthy relationships and consent are becoming more prevalent on college campuses, aiming to prevent incidents by fostering respect and communication among peers. These changes may create safer environments for all students while encouraging a broader understanding of the psychological consequences, particularly for female victims who have historically been overlooked.
I make it a priority to look up the students who have lost their lives in these tragic incidents, as well as their families, to see how they are coping and to learn whether justice was served. In the case of Kristin High, justice was never fully realized; no one was prosecuted for her death. Heartbreakingly, people who once visited her home regularly and played with her two-year-old child no longer even look her family in the eye. This isolation and lack of accountability deepen the loss and highlight the societal and institutional gaps in supporting victims and their loved ones after hazing tragedies.
After Tim Piazza’s tragic death, his family has become deeply involved in anti-hazing advocacy, working to prevent similar tragedies and push for accountability. Tim’s parents, Jim and Evelyn Piazza, founded the Timothy J. Piazza Memorial Foundation and partnered with other families affected by hazing to advocate for stricter laws and education. They actively championed the passage of Pennsylvania’s Timothy J. Piazza Anti-Hazing Law, signed into law in 2018, which increased penalties for hazing, particularly for incidents involving serious injury or death. This law has inspired similar legislation in other states, aiming to enforce stricter penalties and promote safer practices in schools and universities.
The legal process after Tim’s death did lead to some accountability for those involved, though many of the charges were reduced or dismissed, sparking frustration among supporters who felt justice was incomplete. Initially, over a dozen members of Beta Theta Pi faced various charges, including involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, and hazing. However, several of these charges were dropped, and most defendants ended up with reduced sentences, probation, or community service rather than prison time. This outcome was disappointing for the Piazza family, who continue to fight for stronger deterrents against hazing and a cultural shift in how universities address student safety and accountability.
Through examining cultural norms, institutional responses, and societal perceptions, we gain insights into the dynamics surrounding male and female hazing victims. Understanding these factors is crucial in developing prevention strategies and support systems that address the unique challenges faced by both genders.
Vishwani’s opinions are her own and are for informational purposes only. They are not intended to diagnose, treat or provide medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalized medical care.
Vishwani Sahai-Siddiqui is a residency- and fellowship-trained psychiatrist, now a medical writer and editor, and the owner of The Cognitive Quill. For more information, please visit cognitivequill.com or email vishwanipsychmd@gmail.com.
Articles in This Series
- The Long-Term Psychological Effects of Hazing and How We Can Prevent Them
- The Mental Health Impact of Hazing on Bystanders
- Under the Influence – How Hazing Drives Substance Use Among Students
- What Makes a Bully? Can Hazing Culture Temporarily Warp Someone’s Moral Compass?
- Beyond the Locker Room: Unmasking Hazing in the Military, Workplaces, and Sports Teams
- Gender Perspectives on Hazing: Understanding Mental Health Outcomes
- Navigating the Digital Minefield: Cyberbullying, Catfishing and Vulnerability Among Neurodivergent Populations
References
Allan, E. J., & Madden, M. (2008). Hazing in View: College Students at Risk. University of Maine College of Education and Human Development.
Allan, E. J., & Madden, M. (2008). Hazing in View: College Students at Risk. University of Maine College of Education and Human Development.
Campo, S., Poulos, G., & Sipple, J. W. (2005). Prevalence and profiling of hazing among college students. American Journal of Health Behavior, 29(2), 137-149.
Campo, S., Poulos, G., & Sipple, J. W. (2005). Prevalence and profiling of hazing among college students. American Journal of Health Behavior, 29(2), 137-149.
Goldberg & Loren. (2023). Hazing Statistics in the United States. Retrieved from Goldberg & Loren
Hazing Prevention Network. (2020). Hazing Facts. Retrieved from Hazing Prevention Network
Johnson, J., Holman, A., Guerrero, A., Chin, B., & Signer-Kroeker, M. (2018). Gender Differences in Hazing and Psychological Impact.
University of Maine. (2020). UMaine study examines the role of gender in high school hazing. College of Education and Human Development. Retrieved from UMaine website
