A Crisis of Connection? Gender Differences in School Based Friendship Patterns During Adolescence

• In Event: 196 - Regular Session. Education and Gender: Gendered Interactions and Intersections in Schools

Abstract

Recent research has documented numerous female advantages in educational achievement and attainment. In this paper, we examine how gender differences in friendship networks may explain these gender inequalities. We test Way’s (2011) claim that adolescent males lose their close friendships with other males as they move from early through late adolescence, and suffer a “crisis of connection” which causes emotional distress and adversely affects their transition into adulthood. Overall, we find only limited support for Way’s claims. Both male and female students tend to lose same-sex friendships through adolescence at roughly the same rate. This is inconsistent with Way’s claim that boys experience a “crisis of connection.” However, we also found that while both males and females are more likely to become same-sex social isolates as they age, males are more likely than females to become same-sex isolates, which is consistent with Way’s framework. Finally, we found that male and female students both become increasingly more likely to spend time with their same-sex friends through adolescence, and more importantly, both sexes become more likely (not less, as Way found) to talk about problems with their same-sex friends as they move into late adolescence.

Authors

• William J. Carbonaro, University of Notre Dame

• Deanna C. Childress, University of Notre Dame