Ah, the age-old question: can men and women really be just friends? TV shows and movies might make you think that all opposite-sex relationships have an undercurrent of sexual tension flowing through them. However, that isn’t always the case, especially if you’re both mature, understanding adults. In this article, we’ll unpack everything from making male-female friendships work to avoiding jealousy within your romantic relationships. Keep reading to learn all about friendships between men and women.
Things You Should Know
- Men and women can have thriving friendships, especially if they treat each other more like siblings.
- Sometimes, significant others can get jealous of their partner’s opposite-sex friends. Always communicate and respect your partner’s boundaries around your friendships.
- If your partner is worried about your friendships, set ground rules about what they’re comfortable with (and not comfortable with).
Steps
Expert Q&A
Tips
Expert Interview
Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about platonic relationships, check out our in-depth interview with Alysha Jeney, MA, LMFT .
References
- ↑ https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/500733094/can-men-and-women-be-friends-without-benefits
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/complicated-love/202202/5-ways-keep-jealousy-destroying-love
- ↑ https://www.slate.com/articles/life/strictly_platonic/2010/09/the_sex_part.html
- ↑ https://www.bleske-rechek.com/April%20Website%20Files/Bleske-Rechek%20et%20al.%202012%20Benefit%20or%20Burden.pdf
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/201912/when-are-opposite-sex-friends-threat-your-relationship
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/201912/when-are-opposite-sex-friends-threat-your-relationship
- ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/living-forward/201912/when-are-opposite-sex-friends-threat-your-relationship