Can Men and Women Just Be Friends? How To Make a Platonic Friendship Work
Don’t Get Too Comfortable
The platonic friendships that heterosexual men and women have with each other are obviously different than the romantic or sexual relationships they have with their partners – so don’t blur the lines.
Avoid doing anything that feels too intimate or couple-like, such as cuddling on the couch and watching TV, or regularly sleeping in the same bed. Of course, context is everything, and some friendships have unique circumstances, but in general, it’s best to avoid these potentially sticky situations and sending mixed signals to anyone involved.
Be Honest if Your Feelings Change
No one ever said that platonic friendships couldn’t grow into something more. And often, a friendship can make a solid base for an even stronger relationship. That is, of course, if that’s something you both want.
If your feelings change about that person and your platonic relationship does grow into something more, the best thing you can do is be open and honest about your feelings with that person. We know this is scary (terrifying even) because if those feelings aren’t reciprocated, then recovering the old friendship is pretty much impossible. Sorry – didn’t mean to scare you. But it’s your duty to always be honest and express your feelings (if they do change) in a way that doesn’t put any pressure on them.
So, Can Men and Women be Just Friends?
The answer is yes! Sometimes people just hit it off, regardless of sex or gender. Though navigating this relationship dynamic can be tricky, it’s possible to have a successful, healthy platonic relationship with someone of the opposite sex as long as the friendship focuses on open and honest conversation, clearly set boundaries, and making sure that no one has romantic or sexual feelings for the other. And that’s the tricky part, isn’t it? Because sex always makes things complicated.
