ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to interrogate meanings of friendship and the successful sociality of pre-teen and early teenage girls. In navigating complex social abilities, girls are provided with a plethora of advice, from friends, parents and a diverse range of media sources. The chapter draws on narratives of friendship and sociable girls in magazines popular amongst pre-teen and teen girls to explore the content and borders of being a normatively gendered sociable girl. It also explores non/normative sociality in magazines popular amongst tween girls in three national contexts (Australia, Sweden and the United Kingdom), with a particular focus on friendships and relationships with peers. In addition to being a popular girl, it is necessary to be and have a 'best friend forever' or BFF. One of the main challenges to friendships was highlighted through the acquisition of a boyfriend, with particular complications surrounding mutual attraction to the same boy by BFFs.
