Unlikely Friends Bridging Ties and Diverse Friendships

There are those individuals who have established deep, lasting relationships with others from very different backgrounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, etc. Research indicates that such friendships are a relatively rare phenomenon. While many study the reasons for this pattern, the research presented here focuses on the successes of the few: 'How have you broken down the social distance between you and bridged the social distance that separates you?' This monograph traces the process by which people overcome the differences between them, starting with an in-depth look at friendship and friendship patterns in our society, how these boundaries shape the friendships themselves, how opportunities to establish such friendships are structured, and the interpersonal techniques for managing social differences. The book concludes with a consideration of how such friendships can shape the future of society.

James A. Vela-McConnell is associate professor in the Department of Sociology at Augsburg College.