BETWEEN FRIENDS - GENDER, PEER GROUP-STRUCTURE, AND BILINGUALISM IN URBAN CATALONIA

A gap exists between studies of gender and language and studies of bil ingualism. The considerable attention given by studies of discourse st yle to gender differences in friendship patterns is not reflected in r esearch on bilingual communities. This ethnographic case study of high school students in the Barcelona area shows that gender differences i n peer group structure can affect the use of the bilingual repertoire, even when there are no apparent sex differences in second language ac quisition. In this setting, girls' friendship circles are more solidar y and cohesive than boys'. Moreover, girls' groups are ethnically and linguistically homogeneous, while boys' social circles can be ethnical ly mixed and internally differentiated linguistically. Girls' friendsh ips set stronger constraints on language behavior. In turn, boys and g irls reap different social benefits and costs for their linguistic cho ices, with more serious consequences for girls' social identities and acceptance by peers.