Why We Need Opposite Sex Friends
It’s the age-old question, isn’t it? Can men and women really be friends? Seriously, without any feelings getting in the way? While some people strongly disagree that it can be done, there is a lot of evidence to the contrary. In fact, research suggests that totally the opposite is true:
“The belief that men and women can't be friends comes from another era in which women were at home and men were in the workplace, and the only way they could get together was for romance. Now they work together and share interests and socialize together.” [Psychology Today, 2001]
So, what reasons are there to make opposite sex friends?
Well, firstly, you will be given an entirely new world perspective. There’s no denying that men and women view the world in totally different ways, and gaining some insight into that will help you to get a better idea of things. Whether it be dating, work problems, even picking out a gift for someone else... having an insight from both genders can be incredibly useful. You’ll be given answers that you didn’t even consider yourself.
Having a variation of friends means you’ll always have someone to call on no matter what your mood. You need to pick apart a conversation, you can. You want to try something new, you can. Having a wider range of friends can also help you become more comfortable with the opposite sex, you’ll learn more about what they like, what makes them tick, how they socialize themselves, which can only help you when it comes to dating. The more comfortable you are, the better! It’s the perfect way to help banish those awkward first date silences, which everyone hates.
Speaking of dating, you will automatically have a wingman/woman at your disposal to help you out when scouting for somebody new. Or a fake partner to fend off unwanted advances, or even to step in and play the ‘other half’ when you don’t have a date of your own.
So, how do you go about making these new friendships?
You will need to branch out a bit, to try new things and speak to new people. Go to groups, take classes, pick new places to hang out where you know you can spend time with members of the opposite sex. It can be challenging to approach someone without looking like you want more than friendship, but this can be prevented by suggesting group activities. Starting out by spending time with others can be useful in helping to establish those initial boundaries. If you click well with your new friend, things will naturally progress from there.
As long as boundaries are established early, and stuck to, there shouldn’t be any issues when it comes to blurred lines in opposite sex friendships. If feelings ever do crop up, which can happen due to the unpredictable nature of our hormones, it’s always a good idea to have a frank and honest discussion about it, and to also get a little space. Evaluating how much you’re willing to risk your friendship is important when deciding on your next move. After all, it could turn into real love.
You’ll also need to be cautious when either of you gets a new partner, but by including them in your friendship circle you’ll help to eliminate any perceived threat. Often it’s the sense of being left out rather than anything else that causes problems.
Whatever the outcome of your new friendship, having members of the opposite sex in your circle of friends will be beneficial to you in ways you wouldn’t have imagines. All you need to do is broaden your horizons a little and the benefits will be boundless.
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A book every woman can't be without - Do you want to learn how to get more male friends as part of you squad? Learn step by step how to build long-term, successful, fun friendships with men. Meet other men through this and have them give you an insiders perspective on what guys actually think when it comes to dating etc. In addition, we share the secrets to getting out of the 'dreaded friend zone', how to successfully manage a 'friends with benefits' relationship and much much more. Every girl will envy you, and every guy will want to hang out with you!!!!
