Ethnographic Method & Analysis

Analysis of Categories

"Guys and Girls at CUA"

Find categories of person, time, conduct, ... in the following texts:

"Another area which Robin said has puzzled her for a long time in relationships is how important money and being able to pay for things is to guys.   Robin, who comes from a fairly well-off family, doesn't understand when 'a guy feels intimidated if he can't give the material things a girl has had before.'  Robin says she tries to get away from her family's affluent background and environment, and therefore finds herself often dating guys who are the opposite.  This creates a situation of things relating to money that she doesn't understand.  She is amazed by this concern, expressing 'I would have never thought of that being a problem.' She says she guesses people just worry about different things.  In the same way that a guy's money worries are not a big deal to her, she says, 'I worry if he [a guy she's dating] doesn't call me when he says he will, which is not a big thing for him.'"

"...and the girl will start to overreact internally.  If girls are more attractive, they have a higher self esteem and expect the attraction.  Jock are Don Juans.  When friends are involved, whoever beats the other to 'just friends' wins.  I hate that 'just friends' line with a passion!  You've got to beat the girl to it.'

Dave: (Definitely same reaction) When a girl says, 'Let's be friends,' she says, 'I know you want me, but tough shit.'  It is a question of control.

Joyce: It depends upon the relationship.  You don't want to be the one who is hurt.  That's when you cease to have fun.  Guys are oblivious.  Guys don't worry about it.  Guys aren't worried about if they are doing the wrong thing.

Kyle: There is a 60:40 ratio.  Guys have the upper hand.

Dave: My friend goes to a small engineering school.   Guys drool on everything that moves [girls].

Kyle:  My friend plays football at Dartmouth.   This jock is a big-time stud.  There it's possible to get girls.  There are spaced-out girls.  They would rather have female liberation than a buzz.   There are normal girls that the guys fight over.

Interviewer:  How do you know when a girl or guy is interested in you romantically?

Kyle:  When she grabs you...."

(Excerpts from interviews on campus)