You have heard the stories! Perhaps you have even listened to a friend suggest adulterous behaviour when her partner shares a laugh with another woman.
Maybe you have witnessed a friendly hug between two persons of the opposite sex.
What did you think at the time? Have you had a friend who was the opposite sex as you? Do you have any beliefs about the idea? Are they your beliefs or have they been socially constructed and you have accepted them as your own? A few questions to get the thought process rolling.
I have had several clients ask me this questions; friends and family members suggesting that it cannot work, and now that I am enrolled in a Women's Studies course at University I am on a mission to explore this idea further.
I firmly believe that women and men can establish a healthy friendship without sexual energy getting in the way.
I believe that friendships between women and men are not only important but encourage all of us to reach a better understanding about what society tells us is good, bad or indifferent.
We need to live our lives with dignity on our terms, not somebody else's.
Not only have gender roles been stereotyped but so have friendships.
After much exploration on my part, I discovered more and more articles which discussed this very idea and unfortunately many of the articles I have read focused on one thing and that one thing was sex.
The articles did not just focus on sex, some of them flat out stated that women and men cannot be friends unless they have had, are having or want to have sexual relations with one another.
To me that seemed absurd.
I personally have a diverse group of friends; some are women and some are men.
I will admit that boundaries sometimes change when women and men are friends and also a significant other to someone else.
I think that goes without saying and is certainly a respectful decision to make and action to take.
Consequently, friendships change and evolve between women and men, but so do same sex friendships.
Although there are already preconceived notions regarding opposite sex friendships I try to educate those around me and to continue learning more about the novelty of same sex friendships versus opposite sex friendships.
In my opinion, a friend is someone who is trustworthy, loyal, caring, supportive, reliable and fun to be with.
I have longstanding friendships with men that I appreciate as do I have the same with women.
I look at my male friends as brothers not lovers and that in itself tells me how truly possible it is to build friendships with the opposite sex.
I will continue to explore this idea and hope to hear more positive feedback about it when perusing through other articles and such.
It is a myth that needs to be busted; that women and men cannot be friends.
Who wants to live their life based on what society tells them to do rather than what feels right for them as individuals.
If a platonic friendship between a woman and a man cannot exist, then why do they? I continuously hear how awful it is for a woman to talk with a man if she is married, or vice versa; the question I like to ask is why? I have a hard time trying to rationalize the fact that what other people assume is factual.
I believe that friendships are unique and hold different meanings for different people.
I am encouraging all of you to reflect on your friendships and to explore your own personal mindset regarding this idea.
Live your life on your terms and do not be sold out to socially constructed myths.
Maybe you have witnessed a friendly hug between two persons of the opposite sex.
What did you think at the time? Have you had a friend who was the opposite sex as you? Do you have any beliefs about the idea? Are they your beliefs or have they been socially constructed and you have accepted them as your own? A few questions to get the thought process rolling.
I have had several clients ask me this questions; friends and family members suggesting that it cannot work, and now that I am enrolled in a Women's Studies course at University I am on a mission to explore this idea further.
I firmly believe that women and men can establish a healthy friendship without sexual energy getting in the way.
I believe that friendships between women and men are not only important but encourage all of us to reach a better understanding about what society tells us is good, bad or indifferent.
We need to live our lives with dignity on our terms, not somebody else's.
Not only have gender roles been stereotyped but so have friendships.
After much exploration on my part, I discovered more and more articles which discussed this very idea and unfortunately many of the articles I have read focused on one thing and that one thing was sex.
The articles did not just focus on sex, some of them flat out stated that women and men cannot be friends unless they have had, are having or want to have sexual relations with one another.
To me that seemed absurd.
I personally have a diverse group of friends; some are women and some are men.
I will admit that boundaries sometimes change when women and men are friends and also a significant other to someone else.
I think that goes without saying and is certainly a respectful decision to make and action to take.
Consequently, friendships change and evolve between women and men, but so do same sex friendships.
Although there are already preconceived notions regarding opposite sex friendships I try to educate those around me and to continue learning more about the novelty of same sex friendships versus opposite sex friendships.
In my opinion, a friend is someone who is trustworthy, loyal, caring, supportive, reliable and fun to be with.
I have longstanding friendships with men that I appreciate as do I have the same with women.
I look at my male friends as brothers not lovers and that in itself tells me how truly possible it is to build friendships with the opposite sex.
I will continue to explore this idea and hope to hear more positive feedback about it when perusing through other articles and such.
It is a myth that needs to be busted; that women and men cannot be friends.
Who wants to live their life based on what society tells them to do rather than what feels right for them as individuals.
If a platonic friendship between a woman and a man cannot exist, then why do they? I continuously hear how awful it is for a woman to talk with a man if she is married, or vice versa; the question I like to ask is why? I have a hard time trying to rationalize the fact that what other people assume is factual.
I believe that friendships are unique and hold different meanings for different people.
I am encouraging all of you to reflect on your friendships and to explore your own personal mindset regarding this idea.
Live your life on your terms and do not be sold out to socially constructed myths.