Having a guy best friend as a girl can be quite the experience. For one, you can always refer to your best guy friend for the inside scoop on how other guys operate. You can also get the male perspective on certain situations where your best gal friends may share very similar views with you. Granted, not all individuals who identify as girls/women think alike, but when it comes down to it, males and females of the human species just work a little bit differently. With that said, let’s jump right into why having a guy best friend has its pros and cons.
Pros
Male Perspective
As mentioned earlier, you can get a different perspective from
someone who is not only close to you but also biologically speaking,
wired differently.
Less Drama
You know the whole thing about girls bringing more drama to the
plate? Alright, so I’ve done my social research and the verdict has
proven both males and females are perfectly capable of being on the
same playing field when it comes to dramatic tendencies. BUT, let’s
admit it, we collegiettes can be a wee bit cattier than our male
counterparts.
They’re like a Protective Big Brother
For those of us who have a big brother(s), we understand how
protective they can be when it comes to us as their little sister(s). Well,
the same thing seems to happen when you have a guy best friend as
their protective nature kicks in. Guys who have close girl friends tend
to be rather protective when it comes to these girls in their lives. In
fact, when you come to him with issues regarding other guys, he is
quick to react more negatively and not in favor of the guy because he
already knows how most males operate.
Cons
Feelings
I’m sure you’ve probably heard it said, “guys and girls can never just
be friends.” Perhaps you and your best guy friend don’t think this way
or perhaps the two of you were once an item. Well whatever the case
might be, often times when a man and a woman are friends, feelings
tend to arise. After all, if the two of you are phenomenal enough to be
really close, you two probably see the same characteristics in each
other that you are looking for in a potential partner. Thus, feelings are
a major con that can plague the dynamic of guy-girl friendships when
either partner begins to see the other as more than just a friend.
The Outside Gaze
From the outside looking in most people may view your friendship
with your best guy friend as one of blooming love. More times than
none, this could be in fact true BUT a lot of times it is also FALSE.
Having a best guy friend can cause others to view him as your
boyfriend, date or potential boyfriend and/or date. Be prepared for
questions such as “So how long have you two been dating?” or “Aww
you two make such a cute couple!”
Boyfriend Repellent
A girl with a guy best friend might be setting up herself up for failure
in the dating world for a few reasons. For one, if she’s constantly seen
with a particular guy then other guys may infer that she is taken. This
is the biggest con to me because people get stuck on the outside
looking in, as mentioned earlier, and are afraid to take a chance when
it comes to situations as such. So when it comes to dating, make sure
others are aware that you and your pal are just friends.
As a woman who has always had best guy friends throughout her life, I am compelled to share my personal story on this touchy topic. I have definitely experienced a few of the aforementioned situations, but I am an advocate for having a guy best friend. Regardless of that guy’s background or sexual orientation, it is important to have that male perspective when it comes to advice. I appreciate hearing multiple opinions, especially when it comes from my best guy friends. Likewise, a lot of my best guy friends keep it so real with me that I couldn’t see myself getting that realness from a girl friend.
At the same time, it can get a bit awkward when you’re discussing circumstances regarding personal things that we as women face or sexual topics. I will admit that when it comes down to telling my best guy friend about other guys it can get strange because he comes down hard on me with the questions. His first question when I say “So I met this guy,” is always “History and background?” But I enjoy the big brother effect because it shows that there is someone aside from my girlfriends who really cares and can possibly kick another guys ass if need be. Above all, I appreciate all of my close male friends for looking out for me throughout my journey in my teens to early 20s. You all are the real MVP’s and I’m sure my biological brothers would truly appreciate you all.
Collegiettes, I hope you enjoyed this article as much as I enjoyed writing it. Do you have a guy best friend? If so, comment below with reasons why you love or hate having a guy best friend!