Having friends of the opposite sex can broaden your horizons. You'll get a guy's perspective on male-female relationships, get to enjoy activities that many of your girlfriends aren't interested in, and will learn to feel comfortable with members of the opposite sex. If you're looking for a romantic relationship, having a few guy friends who can introduce you to their friends can certainly be an advantage.
The advantages of opposite-sex friendships go both ways, however. Men often enjoy friendships with women because women provide them with opportunities to flirt and can affirm their attractiveness, according to a University of Wisconsin study conducted by assistant professor of psychology Dr. April Bleske-Rechek. When looking to meet a male friend, you'll likely find that many guys are looking to meet you as well.
Step 1
Go where the guys are. If your primary activities after work include a knitting group and a scrapbooking club, you'll probably never meet new guy friends. Get politically involved and you may find yourself canvassing with a new friend. You can also make guy friends by volunteering on a regular basis for an organization that attracts lots of men, such as one that deals with wildlife rehabilitation or volunteer firefighting.
Step 2
Join a softball or soccer league. A sport's league will expose you to people of both sexes, and the nature of the league means that you'll be seeing the same guys week after week. It is easier to make friends when you have regular exposure and proximity to the same people, so a regularly scheduled event will work to your advantage.
Step 3
Start lifting weights. The weight room at the gym is where the guys hang out, and many enjoy helping new people learn proper form. Get into a routine so you'll see the same guys repeatedly. You may find yourself a new workout buddy.
Step 4
Hang out in places where you will meet guys close to your own age, as people are more likely to become friends with a person in their age range. If you are in your twenties or thirties, you may want to have your happy hour at a sports bar, whereas if you are in your forties or fifties, a spot at the country club, for example, may be the ticket.
Step 5
Strike up a conversation with a guy sitting next to you at an event. Showing that you're easy to talk to can pique a guy's interest in friendship. The primary activity that friends of the opposite sex do is talk, according to Psychology Today.
Tips and Warnings
- Once you have a guy friend, keep your distance romantically if you want to keep your friend. Many opposite-sex friendships end due to unreciprocated romantic feelings.
References
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire: UW-Eau Claire Researchers to Share Findings on Male-Female Friendships
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension: The Magic of Friendship (PDF)
- Psychology Today: Can Men and Women Be Friends?
- University of Texas: Opposite-Sex Friendship--Sex Differences and Similarities in Initiation, Selection, and Dissolution
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