Gender Performativity Norms and Friendship Networking Processes: An Epidemiological Perspective From a Longitudinal...

Adolescence is a stage of development in which sensitivity to social norms and peer influences becomes more pronounced, and individuals are expected to conform to social group identities and adopt the normative behaviors of their peers, including gender role norms. However, little is known about the reciprocal effects between gender performativity and the friendship networking process in Taiwanese adolescents. Therefore, this study aimed to adopt a social network analysis to study the relationship mentioned above using a representative cohort study.

Empirical data were retrieved from the Taiwan Youth Project (TYP), a longitudinal cohort study of Taiwanese adolescents. We first constructed a valid gender-typed behavior and attitude scale (GTBAS), tailoring the available items in TYP to reflect individual levels of gender performativity. Next, stochastic actor-based modeling was used for social network analysis based on the friendship nominations identified in TYP.

Most items in the constructed GTBAS were consistent with the theory of gender performativity, with some variations that reflected sociocultural differences. The scale was valid, with an average Cronbach's α of 0.89, and the scores were intercorrelated to a moderate extent across multiple waves (r ranging from 0.43 to 0.53). Moreover, we found that the participants' friendship selection was significantly associated with similarities in biological sex (β = 1.01 [standard error = ±0.12], p < 0.001), and male participants tended to send more friendship nominations (β = 0.28 [±0.138], p < 0.05). However, gender performativity was unrelated to friendship formation, and peers' gender performativity status did not influence it.

Employing an epidemiological manner and tailoring the regional setting, we created a measurement tool that represents gender performativity norms among Taiwanese adolescents. Although biological sex, not gender performativity, was the only critical factor in friendship formation, healthcare providers should be aware of gender issues that gender-nonconforming adolescents may encounter regarding their social networking needs.