Men as a leaf node on women’s social networks is a relatively recent social development. The male fraternities that used to form the nexus of men’s social live

Men as a leaf node on women’s social networks is a relatively recent social development. The male fraternities that used to form the nexus of men’s social lives were seen as exclusionary and withered or were integrated in the 20th century. For example political parties and companies were once fraternal organizations Historically there were abundant social fraternities as well such as gentlemen’s clubs, Order of Masons and veterans fraternities. Societal sexualization of male relationships also contributed to the recent shift. Men in the 1800s would express affection to their male friends in language that would make straight men today blush. Niobe Way has done a lot of research on how this has impacted adolescent male relationships which creates the “leaf node” effect.