I feel like I’m a bit like the woman you describe.
I was very ‘male socialised’ during most stages of my life, childhood first best friend was a boy, my hobby/ job had no women etc.
I often feel like women aren’t interested in me. If I meet a couple, the man will be friendly and have a laugh/joke with me, the woman usually won’t make an effort - maybe as a response to their partner being friendly?
whenever a woman approaches me in a friendly way, I’m surprised, as it rarely happens. I don’t know why. I have heard retrospectively from female friends that they were intimidated by me first.
I’ve also had a ridiculous amount of bad experiences with women. Mostly bullying starting at school, including physical and sexual abuse, nevermind the usual rumour spreading, personal confidential information always being spread, on-off friendships etc. As an adult, I always seem to think I’m better friends with a woman than i really am. You can talk almost every day, go for coffees, meals, days out, and suddenly you’re ghosted or excluded, left to figure out why. Using exclusion as a weapon because someone said something you didn’t like is childish and I have no time for it, or for creating drama in friendships. We’re not 15.
Meanwhile, my experience is that in a group of men they always try hard to include me, even change the conversation to ensure it’s ’female friendly’, make sure I get home safe etc.
Funny enough when my male colleagues or friends introduce me to their wife/ family, their partner does not seem interested or engaged with me, even though I focus hardcore on them, find out about their job, what the kids like, basically no engagement with their husband… and yet somehow I never meet the wife again and come away feeling somewhat dismissed.
At work I’ve tried to be in female groups but it never really works out. Organically I end up being friends with maybe 4-5 men, we have banter about politics, tech, football… As well as some really nice conversations about experiences or problems we need help with, eg career progression, health/ fitness, being more social etc… I find that women like to talk about friends and family and other people often, and it’s just not topics I find interesting - I’ll try but I prefer non-personal topics.
Phew, got it all out.
I know a couple of women who are inclusive and lovely and brighten up my day, send the loveliest texts etc… They all work in hair and beauty so just very good communication skills.
Totally down for being friendly with women, but if women constantly make it hard for you to enter their exclusive club, while men don’t think twice, you may choose the group that makes you feel welcome. I don’t want to feel like I’m trying to win someone’s approval socially and jumping through hoops.
It’s not my intention to not be a ‘girl’s girl’ as you describe, but I find myself quite rejected by women over and over again, so it’s probably my natural reaction to be more open to men, and it may reflect in my body language and attitude. Hurt far too many times.