STATUS INEQUALITY AND CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS - AN INTEGRATIVE TYPOLOGY OF BOND-SAVING STRATEGIES

Equality is described in the literature as a prerequisite to satisfyin g close relations, but research has not seriously grappled with how a sense of equality is created or how inequalities might be overcome. Th is paper uses an interactionist perspective to explore how individuals maintain or repair a close social bond when a perceived difference in status is defined to be problematic. In 176 essays, respondents descr ibed a situation where a status inequality disrupted a close relations hip, the strategies one or both of the participants used to maintain t he bond, and how effective the strategies were. Analytic induction yie lded four basic strategy types: (a) accept the status inequality; (b) avoid the situation which fosters feelings of inequality; (c) alter th e inequality by redefining or concretely mitigating it; and (d) acknow ledge and discuss the problematic situation. Findings from previous re search on facework, embarrassment, and shame are integrated into this typology, and implications are drawn for symbolic interactionist theor y and research.