Gender differences in popularity discourses: Results from an ethnically diverse Hungarian primary school sample

Status among peers, popularity in particular, is one of the central concerns for adolescents. While dynamics have been extensively researched ‘Western’ contexts, less known about other geographical areas. The present paper written to address this gap by investigating gendered patterns discourses sixth-grade students (age 12–14) Central and Northern Hungarian primary schools. research involved conducting focus-group interviews with 144 pupils ten school classes a large proportion ethnic Roma socially disadvantaged students. analysis draws on critical, primarily Foucauldian, understanding discourse power relations. Most our findings are line literature. Popularity boys were related traditional ‘masculine’ traits such as sports, physical strength, dominance, while girls’ centred appearance, verbal aggression, ‘arrogance’, kindness. However, ‘sensitivity’, lack inability ‘protect oneself’ considered ‘unmanly’, no similar ‘unfemininity’ emerged. In case girls, ‘liking too much’ was disapproved, ‘bad behaviour’, academic disengagement not. also briefly covers intersections gender ethnicity.