Learning Curve

This introduction to Chapter Two briefly discusses how I prepared for this study about male bonding in advance and why I chose to apply ethnographic methods. (more…)

This brief section outlines some of the principles of ethnographic research.  (more…)

This section introduces the 12 individuals who participated in my research via interview. It lists their position at the fraternity, the amount of people belonging to that fraternity, how we met, and other vital information. I gave each participant the opportunity to remain anonymous. As a result, readers have paid a lot of attention to their highly unusual selection of a pseudonyms, which gives great insight about the psychology of the sample group. (more…)

This brief section outlines my process for setting up and conducting interviews. It explains the “courtship” ritual between an interviewer and an interviewee in which trust is developed. (more…)

This brief section looks at some of the politics that complicated my research. On one hand, fraternity members sometimes discussed the secret rituals that are considered sacred by their fraternity. On the other hand, the women studies program at Oregon State University held specific (and sometimes inaccurate) ideas about the nature of male bonding at US fraternities. I had to walk a tightrope between the two. (more…)

This section looks at my personal background as a man in a women studies program. It explores why I had enrolled in such a program, my conflicts with feminist theories, and how being a man affected my research about male bonding. (more…)

This section explores my personal background with fraternities. It explains why I have never pledged as a member to any fraternity and some of the stereotypes and misconceptions I have held against them. (more…)