It is more acceptable for women to love their female friends than it is for men to love their male friends.

Question

please answer in 1 to 2 sentences

Answer 1

Gender dynamics are complicated in most countries. With regards to expressing love for one's friends, it is important to see what expressions of love were allowed for that human to experience as a child. Most expressions of love outside the family dynamic can be more complicated based on what you experienced within the family. On the gender side, gender expectations are imposed upon children early of what girls and boys should or shouldn't be doing - which kind of toys are ok, what values each sex has. I look at these elements with regards to how it manifests in chronic violence and abuse in the family structure. An interesting element around this is how disney movies create behavior patterns in young girls to conform to men or to defer to men. There is an interesting parody on this (google Pink Giraffe) with a fun cartoon of a pyschotherapist assisting Disney characters. On the opposite side, boys are shamed to express any form of emotions - love, sadness and so it often turns into passive aggressiveness and rage. You could google "toxic masculinity" to learn more about this.

To summarize - love is about vulnerability and your openness to being vulnerable. Because that door is often shut to boys/men, it can be harder for them to always express love in an expected way. For this to shift, it involves investigating how/why society prevents young boys from expressing feelings.

Answer 2

Madeline, your question about same-gendered love and acceptability crashes the intensely personal with the entirely separate realm of social and cultural norms and expectations. To answer this question, you will need to consider both your personal perspectives and those of the lovers as well as the current and historical norms and lessons of your society and beyond.