Speaking of Friendship - (Contributions in Women's Studies) by Helen Gouldner & Mary Symons Strong (Hardcover)

About the Book

Speaking of Friendship provides an in-depth look at the friendships of middle-class women. It explores the details of their everyday experiences with making and keeping friends from the beginnings of casual acquaintanceship to the cultivation of close friends and confidantes. The importance women attach to having friends is seen in the determined search they undertake to replace friends from whom they are periodically separated by residential mobility, job switches, and other major changes in their lives. Based on interviews with seventy-five middle- and upper-middle-class women between the ages of thirty and sixty-five, this unique sociological study reveals a kaleidoscope of friendship experiences.

Book Synopsis

Speaking of Friendship provides an in-depth look at the friendships of middle-class women. It explores the details of their everyday experiences with making and keeping friends from the beginnings of casual acquaintanceship to the cultivation of close friends and confidantes. The importance women attach to having friends is seen in the determined search they undertake to replace friends from whom they are periodically separated by residential mobility, job switches, and other major changes in their lives. Based on interviews with seventy-five middle- and upper-middle-class women between the ages of thirty and sixty-five, this unique sociological study reveals a kaleidoscope of friendship experiences.

Review Quotes

.,."The authors have done an excellent job of introducting the reader to information concerning the beginnings of friendship, the types of relationships formed, and the breakdowns or endings of friendships. Atheoretical, this is qualitative investigation based on interviews conducted with seventy-five women ages of thirty to sixty-five, who were selected through the 'snowball' method of sampling..."-Sociological Inquiry

?...The authors have done an excellent job of introducting the reader to information concerning the beginnings of friendship, the types of relationships formed, and the breakdowns or endings of friendships. Atheoretical, this is qualitative investigation based on interviews conducted with seventy-five women ages of thirty to sixty-five, who were selected through the 'snowball' method of sampling...?-Sociological Inquiry

..."The authors have done an excellent job of introducting the reader to information concerning the beginnings of friendship, the types of relationships formed, and the breakdowns or endings of friendships. Atheoretical, this is qualitative investigation based on interviews conducted with seventy-five women ages of thirty to sixty-five, who were selected through the 'snowball' method of sampling..."-Sociological Inquiry

About the Author

HELEN GOULDNER is Dean of the College of Arts and Science and Professor of Sociology at the University of Delaware.

MARY SYMONS STRONG is an editorial consultant and the former editor of Transaction Magazine.