4. A Cultural Approach to Male-Female Miscommunication

Growing up as a girl can be hard unless you have communication tools that help you to decipher the complex code of "girl talk." If you do not have these tools, then a social connection can seem almost impossible. The article states that "friendship is seen by girls as involving intimacy, equality, mutual commitment, and loyalty," (424) and that the boys seem to be missing out on this. In my experience, the trials and tribulations of social acceptance by girls in high school was an intimidating time because I did not understand the hierarchy of power that determined your ranking in the social structure of friendships. My lack of knowledge kept me on the outside of peer groups. I only formed one friendship based on any of the characteristics in the article, and we are still friends after nineteen years.

As an adult who has figured out the specific elements within female relationships, I can still see the same structures of high school in my current circle of friends. Although now grown women, the desire to maintain the tight bond is still there. What also remains is the ability to disband when there is conflict by removing contact from the slanderous friend who threatens the solidarity of a group of women. Some things never change.