Romance is an especially rich and complex theme in American culture. This article explores how a particular social form, going-with, shapes the experiences of early adolescents as they begin their enculturation into romance. Examining going-with as a social form rather than as merely an activity illuminates some of the problems created by this social form as it constitutes the context in which individuals are obliged to pursue their attraction to each other. Exploring this social form also shifts the focus away from the emphasis on individual characteristics as the source of romantic difficulties. The contention here is that the way this social form is constituted and construed in this junior high school results in patterns of interaction and meanings that negatively affect the realization of romance.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Adler, P. A.
, and P. Adler.1994. Social reproduction and the corporate other: The institutionalization of afterschool activities.Sociological Quarterly35:309-328.
2.
Bellah, R.
, R. Madsen, W. Sullivan, A. Swidler, and S. Tipton. 1985. Habits of the heart: Individualism and commitment in American life.New York: Harper & Row.
3.
Berndt, T. J.1983. Correlates and causes of sociometric status in childhood: A commentary on six current studies of popular, rejected, and neglected children.Merrill-Palmer Quarterly29:439-448.
4.
Camarena, P. M.
, P. A. Sarigiani, and A. C. Petersen.1990. Gender-specific pathways to intimacy in early adolescence.Journal of Youth and Adolescence19:19-32.
5.
Canaan, J.
1986. Why a “slut” is a “slut”: Cautionary tales of middle-class teenage girls' morality. In Symbolizing America, edited by H. Varenne, 184-208. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.
6.
Eckert, P.
1989. Jocks and bumouts: Social categories and identity in high school.New York: Teachers College Press.
7.
Eisenhart, M. A.
, and D. C. Holland.1983. Learning gender from peers: The role of peer groups in the cultural transmission of gender.Human Organization42:321-322.
8.
Fine, G. A.
1987. With the boys: Little league baseball and pre-adolescent culture.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
9.
Fischer, J. L.1981. Transitions in relationship style from adolescence to young adulthood.Journal of Youth and Adolescence10:11-23.
10.
Geertz, C.
, ed. 1973. Religion as a cultural system. In The interpretation of cultures, 87-125. New York: Basic Books.
11.
Hatfield, E.
1984. The dangers of intimacy. In Communication, intimacy, and close relationships, edited by V. Derlega, 207-220. New York: Academic Press.
12.
Hebdige, D.
1979. Subculture: The meaning of style.New York: Methuen.
13.
Henry, J.
1965. Culture against man.New York: Random House.
14.
Holland, D.
, and M. Eisenhart. 1990. Educated in romance: Women, achievement, and college culture.Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
15.
Lawrence, P.A.
1976. Georg Simmel: Sociologist and European.New York: Barnes and Noble.
16.
Merten, D. E.1994. The cultural context of aggression: The transition to junior high school.Anthropology and Education Quarterly25:29-43.
17.
Moffatt, M.
1989. Coming of age in New Jersey: College and American culture.New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
18.
Moss, B. F.
, and A. I. Schwebel.1993. Defining intimacy in romantic relationships.Family Relations42:31-37.
19.
Peele, S.
1988. Fools for love: The romantic ideal, psychological theory, and addictive love. In The psychology of love, edited by R. J. Sternberg and M. L. Barnes, 159-188. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
20.
Reiss, I.
1973. Sexual codes in teen-age culture. In The sociology of youth: Evolution and revolution, edited by H. Silverstein, 292-302. New York: Macmillian.
21.
Roscoe, B.
, M. S. Diana, and R. H. Brooks II.1987. Early, middle, and late adolescents' views on dating and factors influencing partner selection.Adolescence22:59-68.
22.
Sapir, E.
1963. Culture, genuine and spurious. In Selected writings of Edward Sapir in language, culture, and personality, edited by D. G. Mandelbaum, 308-331. Berkeley: University of California Press.
23.
Schwartz, G. H.
, and D. E. Merten. 1980. Love and commitment.Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
24.
Schwartz, G. H.
, D. E. Merten, and R. J. Bursik.1987. Teaching styles and performance values in junior high school: The impersonal, nonpersonal, and personal.American Journal of Education95:346-370.
25.
Simmel, G.
1971. Sociability. In Georg Simmel: On individuality and social forms, edited by D. N. Levine, 127-140. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
26.
Simmons, R. G.
, and D. A. Blyth. 1987. Moving into adolescence: The impact of pubertal change and school context.New York: Aldine de Gruyter.
27.
Simon, R. W.
, D. Eder, and C. Evans.1992. The development of feeling norms underlying romantic love among adolescent females.Social Psychological Quarterly55:29-46.
28.
Thorne, B.
1993. Gender play: Girls and boys in school.New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.
29.
Whyte, L. L.
1966. Aspects of form: A symposium on form in nature and art, edited by L. L. Whyte.Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
