What is the difference between friendships among men versus those among women – and how does friendship evolve as we age?
Now, this one is the big one, and everything about it interests me. I’ll readily admit that I have way more female friends than male friends, for two simple reasons. Women talk about more in-depth subjects. Don’t let the magazines sway you from this point, but women are, for the most part, not the shallow ones. When you talk to a woman, you have a depth of conversation that isn’t there with most men. That’s not to say that men don’t have depth, but they don’t tend to share it with other men. Relationships between men are generally built around those shared interests that they already have. If you like to golf and I like to golf, let’s go for a round. But we’re not going to relate most other places except on the golf course. That doesn’t make for solid friends who tell each other everything and have a solid, deep relationship. I think that comes with men being raised from a young age to push down that emotionality, and not to share. This is why relationships between men tend to be superficial and short-lasting, unless they went to college together. This changes everything I just said. Something about being that young and living in dorms together, that creates a bond that is stronger than adult male bonds.
Women, on the other hand, tend to over-share if they do anything. Relationships between women are often very emotional because of this sharing. That also tends to make them volatile. I’m not saying that all women are over-emotional, but you know how it is with your girlfriends. They tend to over-analyze everything you say and do, so they might get upset easily over something simple, and suddenly a non-issue becomes a glaring issue.
Keep in mind, this isn’t generalizing, just my particular experience with female-to-female relationships. I am obviously not a female so I don’t have all the answers for that one. Please feel free to explain to me how the female-to-female friendship works for you, ladies. That’s what I love about life. It is always different for each person. Happy reading!
Sam
Sam's Online Journal 
I have family with whom I would share most everything and friends with whom I am circumspect and vice versa.
Why not go out and have a good time with your mom? Maybe we set ourselves limits and deprive ourselves of good times.
That’s not what I meant, setting limits. What I meant was that we choose friends based on compatibility and shared interests. Mothers don’t always share our interests and wouldn’t always be thrilled and appreciate Maroon 5 or whatever else we were into.
Thanks for answering my questions, Sam! I’m talking to lots of folks and am finding common themes when it comes to experiences with friends and family. I’ll be sure to link back to you here when I post. Feel free to do the same if you feel it works.
Also, in reading the comment above I found myself remembering a conversation I had with my son when he was in his twenties – he said, “thanks for not trying to be my friend.” These days, we can enjoy many things together but as close as we are and as much love as there is — the term “friend” doesn’t yet apply.
I like how you used the word “yet.” Never give up on that one. It may happen yet, but even if it doesn’t, as long as respect and appreciation is there, I don’t see anything wrong with that kind of parent-child relationship.