One contradiction exists in popular gender stereotypes of friendship, one that most probably don’t realize. Female friendships are thought to be less sincere, less stable, and more superficial than male friendships. Women are seen as being in nearly constant competition with each other and disloyal to women they call friends.
At the same time, friendships between women are believed to be more revealing, intimate, and personal than those between men. But how can something be both superficial and deep, intimate and insincere? Are female friendships “better” overall for these reasons, or inferior for the same reasons?
Despite what many may think, friendships between men and women haven’t been found to be very different. Men and women engage in friendships for similar reasons and claim to achieve similar goals with friendships. The differences between the two types of friendships are superficial and usually a matter of appearance and style.