There are many advantages to having a friend of the opposite sex. Study participants found that getting advice on how to woo a potential partner was very helpful. The women also revealed that they felt that their male friends offered them protection. But of course, those are not the only benefits.
We have compiled a list of ways this kind of friendship can enrich our lives.
How it Really is to Have a Best Friend from the Opposite Sex
You Get A Fresh Point Of View
Getting opinions from people who see and experience the world differently from us is invaluable. Having access to how they think can help us navigate situations that we may be going through in other aspects of our lives, such as work, family, and romantic relationships.
This allows us to better understand the situation and can help us solve problems that may be bothering us.
You Always Have A Backup Partner
If you are single, having a friend of the opposite sex means having a partner in crime for those times when you don’t want to go to an event alone. We can always ask a friend to be “one more”.
The only downside is that they ask if you are a couple, but having a friend to share those strange moments with makes it a little easier.
You Can Have A Great Wing Person
Approaching someone can be scary, especially when you don’t know if the person is single or what their situation is. That’s when a friend of the opposite sex can help.
If your friend approaches a person of the same sex, they can have a casual conversation without pressure, gather information, and find out a little about them.
You Can Improve Your Communication Skills
Spending time with a platonic friend can improve our communication skills. It’s easy to talk to our friends, open up to them, and talk about things that can be difficult.
They listen and give their advice and comfort. Sharing with someone of the opposite sex can make us more confident to share ideas and opinions.
We have to communicate with all kinds of people in our everyday lives, and having a friendship between the sexes can make these interactions easier to maneuver.
You Can Speak Openly About Your Feelings
Some men find it difficult to open up to their male friends compared to female friends. In friendships between the sexes, trusting a friend can be valuable as we can talk openly with him, especially when it comes to talking about our feelings.
You Can Do New Activities You May Not Have Otherwise Tried
Friends usually come together out of some kind of mutual interest, but part of a friendship is trying new things together and learning about each other’s hobbies and activities outside of shared passions.
Saying there are male/female activities is old-fashioned, but there are things that the opposite sex is less likely to be targeted through advertising. Having a friend of the opposite sex can open us up to experiencing these things.
What about you … do you have friends of the opposite sex? Or do you know of any tried and true friendships between men and women?
Preview photo credit ASSOCIATED PRESS/EAST NEWS, ZAK BRIAN/SIPA/EAST NEWS, AFP/EAST NEWS
