Abstract

In this Independent Study I use the social penetration theory and the social exchange theory as frameworks through which to understand male friendships between heterosexual and homosexual men. In ethnographic interviews, respondents were asked to give brief narratives of their friendship with their closest male friend of the opposite sexuality in order to identify various elements of gender performance in the friendship. The study concluded that both heterosexual and homosexual men perform their “male” roles differently when they are in a friendship with a man of the opposite sexuality from theirs using self-disclosure and emotional expression as measures of gender performance.

Advisor

Atay, Ahmet

Department

Communication Studies

Disciplines

Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication

Publication Date

2015

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2015 Jason P. Evans