Abstract
This paper examines Connell's social theory of gender in two secondary schools. Using statistical models for social networks, relations of power, violence, liking and disliking are investigated with regard to students' male dominance attitudes. While one school demonstrates support for local-level hypotheses articulated for Connell's theory, and thus for the conception of hegemonic masculinity as sitting atop a hierarchy of masculinities, another school does not. However, support for the more fundamental notion that gender is relational is found within both contexts. This research represents the first assessment of Connell's theory in local contexts using a quantitative relational methodology. That hypothesised effects are found, even after controlling for many other explanatory factors, demonstrates impressive empirical support for Connell's theory.
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