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To think having friends of all genders is healthy

85 replies

Annettte · 22/06/2025 12:25

This occurred to me as I was talking to a friend who's son recently did his 1st year at college. I know the young man in question & he's really blossomed since going away. After growing up shy and not fitting in, all boys school, very male environments he's now got a good circle, female as well as male. I've met men in their 40s who are clueless about how to relate to women. Some of them honestly seem terrified of women. I don't know why. Wouldn't the world be a better, more empathetic place, if we all knew each other a bit better?

OP posts:
YesButNoButMayybee · 22/06/2025 12:38

Both sexes, you mean.

Energywise · 22/06/2025 12:37

Why men only? What about the women who went to all girls schools? We have couple friends of both but I really don’t have any male friends of mine specifically. We socialise with lots of couples and some single friends I haven’t thought about it that deeply.

Myrobalanna · 22/06/2025 12:36

Yes, I agree. (I have a couple of trans friends and a couple of 'I don't really know which gender I fit into so I eschew gender categories altogether' friends and let me tell you that is very healthy as well. Even if I don't always agree with them on detail.)

ThePhantomoftheEcobubbleOpera · 22/06/2025 12:36

Two sexes, yes. Genders though, I mean it's going to be hard to find the two spirit penguin to complete the set.

atoo · 22/06/2025 12:34

"all genders" - nope; I don't think my life is impoverished because I don't have any faegender friends

"Both sexes" - yes, for sure.

FloraBotticelli · 22/06/2025 12:34

Some of them honestly seem terrified of women. I don't know why.

Dig a bit deeper. Parents give us our templates for relationships very early in life. If people find it difficult to relate to a particular sex it can mean something went wrong with that sex of parent early on.

Wouldn't the world be a better, more empathetic place, if we all knew each other a bit better?

Well, yes. But wouldn’t the world also be a better place if people like you weren’t judging others for their fears?

I've met men in their 40s who are clueless about how to relate to women.

Are you a woman? Maybe you could have been their first good experience if you’d had a little patience and empathy with them?

VickyEadieofThigh · 22/06/2025 12:30

Both sexes? Absolutely.

Deanefan · 22/06/2025 12:28

Can’t agree more it is lovely to have friends of both sexes. I have seen this for both of sons in sixth form and uni and it is great.

Fimofriend · 22/06/2025 12:27

Ah, you meant "both genders". Yes, I agree. My DH and I, and our kids have always had friends of both genders.

Missedthis · 22/06/2025 12:27

I think you mean friends of both sexes? In which case yes, it’s a good thing.

Gender is stereotypical nonsense and should be avoided.