While maybe Cartooniverse would say this belongs in the Pit, here is my answer:
When I initially meet someone, I feel more comfortable with women. I’m not sure why, I’ve been like this since I was a baby. When I was a baby, I was petrified of all men.
After the initial meeting someone stage, gender has absolutely no effect on whether or not I become closer with them. I have not noticed any significant differences in conversation betwen women and men, not any difference in social stigmatization or whatever.
If we’re talking about a group of relative strangers, I’m a lot happier hanging out with men than with women, simply because I understand men better and always have. Of course, I’m a woman who has 2 brothers and no sisters, so I’m sure that’s a factor. Also, at the risk of stereotyping I’m afraid I have no interest in babies, shopping, and kids, the things I’ve heard my female co-workers talk about. I can, however keep up my end in a conversation about American football and sports.
On the other hand, I have several good female friends, including a woman who I think will be my boss soon, and there are several women and men on this Board I’d be honored to claim as friends. (Fairy Chat Mom, how do chocolate truffles sound? They’ve been called “chocolate heroin”.) My closest friends are pretty evenly divided between male and female. What they have in common are good hearts, open minds, a passion for talking about ideas, and a weakness for really bad puns. Give me those 4 things, and I don’t care what gender you are!
Why? Because, in general, they will tell you to your face if they have a problem with you, and it doesn’t end the friendship. Women generally will just talk behind your back for a while and then start avoiding you.
