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| Scene from "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder" (TV series; 2024-present) |
According to the narrator, "when you first start dating someone, early communication is communal . . . When you're texting a woman, it's incredibly probable that you're talking not just ot her but to one or two of her closest friends as well" (6).
Do you think this is true?
Are women in general more likely to talk about sensitive details of their emotional and even physical experiences than men are?
To what extent is this a good thing? How might it be seen as a negative?
I do believe that women are more likely to talk to each other about sensitive details of their personal lives to each other than men are. Some say this could be seen as negative because women could end up sharing too much not only about themselves, but about their partner, for example showing a friend intimate text messages between them and their partner. Some people also say, especially men, that women get into more arguments with their friends because they share too much. However, I believe that the culture women have built around sharing feelings, thoughts, and details about their life is what makes women friendships incredibly powerful and fulfilling. To men, women’s friendships are going to seem emotional and dramatic because men’s friendships generally do not have the same depth women’s friendships do. - Nina Benton
ReplyDeleteWhile men will often ask for advice or brag, they do not usually scrutinize potential partners like their friends due simply due to a smaller list of priorities generally in dating and less danger for men broadly speaking.
ReplyDeleteI personally feel that the idea that women will share everything with their friends is more of something you'd see in movies rather than real life. Sure, there will definitely be examples of that in real life, but I feel like, at least with adults, it's usually between you and the other person.
ReplyDeleteWomen will talk about anything with their friends, especially if they're good friends! I know I would, but definitely some things are best kept to oneself, especially if it is something very strenuous and or something that was asked to be kept secret. While it's not a bad thing, it can be turned into one if information is put into the wrong hands.
In the early stages of a relationship, I believe that communication between a potential partner is more communal especially for women. Though I believe that need to share with others is coming more so from a place of self preservation rather than a place of gossip.
ReplyDeleteIn the throes of young love we are often blinded by our naive perception of our partners (believing that our partners could never do any wrong). Women, I feel, have evolved to sharing communications about a partner as a sort of “second opinion.” This can prove to be beneficial because outside people can pick the bad out a lot better than those in the relationship. However, I believe also this could become a negative habit if one never communicate issues with their partner that come to light in one’s “girl talks.”
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ReplyDeleteI feel that the idea of women sharing everything about a new partner with their friends is more likely than a man doing it. Gender socialization still has an affect on people especially in those younger ages when you're with your first partner. This is most likely why to me that women are more likely to share their emotions and talk to their friends about what goes on with them and their partner. While traditionally, it is seen as weak to share your emotions as a man which might include what goes on in your relationship.
ReplyDeleteIt is always a good thing to share your emotions with other people and talk about your partner. Sometimes you need that second opinion or help to make you feel rational about your feelings. however, it starts to become negative when people begin to share personal things about their partner to friends.
I do believe women are more likely to exchange sensitive details of their emotional and even physical experiences than men are. Most women are known to do this as a way to express how well their relationship is going or the opposite. Some women use it to ask for advice on how to react in certain situations or ask if they were right about how certain texts may sound. I believe that women do not mean to do this negatively, but it can be seen as such if they are always talking with the intent to criticize or talk down to their partner.
ReplyDeleteI believe that where we are now as a society, both men and women are both sharing intimate and personal details about their relationships. It used to be one-sided by women but I have now seen men become more open about what is going on in their relationships. I view this as a bad thing for both sides. Relationships thrive more when kept private because once you let outside parties know the details of everything that happens in the relationship, those parties begin clouding your judgement about your own relationships because they always have an opinion.
ReplyDeleteI believe women are more prone to communicate their feelings with each other because of the social expectations built around what is considered "feminine" or "manly". These expectations create different social norms, making women feel more comfortable to express what they and their partners have recently discussed, while a man might be less likely to share his feelings or mention sensitive details about themselves or their partner.
ReplyDeleteThe early stages of a relationship could be uncomfortable to navigate. At the very start, both people may not be certain about entering the relationship at all, even if they like each other. So, it is natural to want an outside opinion. Both sides may reach out to their friends and family to help them make decisions. From my personal experience and what I have heard and seen, women tend to utilize this more than men.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I find it difficult and even uncomfortable to talk to my closest friends and family about my personal relationships in detail, and not because I think they are untrustworthy. Whereas I have been reached out to talk about these topics by my female peers. Of course, these are very isolated cases and cannot be generalized to the entire population. However, from a general point of view in real life and especially online, it is believed that women tend to share more with their friends. Most men are aware of this, as highlighted in the text, that the author's partner, now-husband, assumed a third party was seeing their texts.
There is also a factor of stigma in the male environment, which makes it difficult to talk about personal topics or struggles as compared to the female environment, where it is less prevalent. Personally, I believe it would be better to calm down this stigma so there are more open conversations.
Whether this is good or bad is a matter of the severity of the situation. Obviously, withholding sensitive information that is harming someone doesn't yield favorable results. But opening up to someone also runs the risk of an outside opinion without total information, which can poison a relationship regardless of intentions.
I believe there should be a weighing of internal and external opinions in a relationship to keep it healthy and lasting. A reasonable balance and desire to keep working on a relationship is vital to leading a prosperous relationship.
Women, in general, are more in touch with their feelings mostly due the cat men are often berated for showing any emotion. In my past experiences, I remember being huddled around my best friend's cell phone whenever she entered a new relationship. This could go good or bad. Somethings are better to be left private to the ones in the relationship. While on the other hand, outside perspectives can steer the relationship into a healthy direction. The key is to know when to be discreet.
ReplyDeleteI believe that women tend to talk to their friends about dating more than guys when they first start dating. I think that most men are taught not to be openly emotional, whereas women are. This makes it easier for most women to talk about sensitive details than it is for most men. I think that for the most part it can be a good thing to talk about sensitive details to people you are close with early on in dating, but I think that some people may rely on what their friends think too much.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that in the beginning of a relationship communication is communal, especially for women. I believe women are more likely to talk about sensitive details than men are because female friendships are usually an outlet. I think it can be good when you are confiding in someone trustworthy outside of your relationship to gain a new perspective. However, for this to be considered a good thing you must make sure the person you are confiding in isn't going to tear them down just because they are your friend, but be an unbiased outlet. There is a fine line between having an outlet and gossiping about your partner.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely believe that women are more likely to talk about sensitive details regarding their relationships to their friends, but this I don't look down upon this. I am one who tells my friends everything, while this could be considered a negative thing I don't look down upon it. Women turning to their female friendships about relationships is bound to happen. Women tend to seek approval and advice from other women. I do see the positive side of this. Women are comfortable in their friendships to open up to talk about personal or emotional things. I think men can have close friendships like this too, but do see it being less common. Being able to communicate openly with your friends is a positive things, no matter your gender.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that women are more likely to discuss relationship details with their friends than men are. Women tend to turn to their most trusted friends for approval or a second opinion. I think that men, however, are usually less vulnerable than women. Meaning they may hide the sensitive details from their friends in an effort to not seem weak. From experience with myself and with friends, women are more likely to discuss emotional things with their friends and men are more likely to discuss physical things with their friends. Leaning on friendships for advice instead of gossiping about your partner is how you keep healthy friendships and relationships, no matter the gender.
ReplyDeleteYes, I believe it is true that when you text a woman you are in the early stages of a relationship with, you are also talking to one or two of her closest friends as well. I am a woman who has done the same thing of showing my best friend messages and her showing her messages to me. Yes, women in general are way more likely to talk about sensitive details of their emotional and physical experiences than men are. Women are more emotionally mature, and we are not afraid to build our own little communities with other women who will listen to us, protect us, give advice, and even assure us when things may go wrong. I believe it is a great thing that we look out for each other and share our experiences with those we trust. It could be seen as a negative in the sense of a woman in the relationship shared information that the other partner was not comfortable with and that could cause them to withdraw from said relationship. It could also be seen as negative by people who are trying to take advantage of a woman, and they may not see that alone, but their friends do and warn them. I see this as a wonderful thing, and I wish men could have their own little communities like ours that are not harmful. -Zeeva Skidmore-Beaney
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kaeli, with that last statement. I've found in some past friendships (typically with women) that people are a little too comfortable sharing details that may be too sensitive or even personal for the other party. It does seem to come from the fact that women are encouraged more often to be emotional and to express their feelings than men, which can lead to men being more closed off or even expressing this behavior in a different way. Men I've noticed end to take on a more relaxed way of telling their friends about relationship conversations or issues, with one example being a guy trying to talk about a relationship issue with his friends while trying to play it off at the same time that he doesn't care, though in reality, he's seeking their advice on how to handle and respond to it.
ReplyDeleteI would definitely say yes, at least based on my own experiences. I think it is pretty common for women to talk to their close friends about someone they are dating, especially when the relationship is new. I've definitely talked to my friends about things happening in my relationships, including things that might be considered pretty personal. Sometimes it isn't even about wanting advice; sometimes you just want to tell your friends what happened and hear their opinions.
ReplyDeleteI do think women are generally more likely to talk openly about sensitive emotional and even physical experiences than men are. Of course, this isn't true for everyone, but I think women are often encouraged to have close friendships where they can talk about those things without being judged.
I think this can be a really good thing because having people you trust to talk to can help you process your feelings and recognize when something in a relationship isn't healthy. It can also make you feel less alone when you're going through something. On the other hand, it can become negative if someone shares private details about their partner without considering whether their partner would be comfortable with it. It could also cause problems if friends make judgments about a relationship based on only one side of the story. Overall, though, I think having close friends you can openly talk to is a pretty positive thing.
I think women are more open to share everything about new relationships with each other, especially younger women. In most instances it is to help that friend navigate how they feel and if they think that a new relationship is worth pursuing with that person. In my experience, open conversations about their experiences has been a way for many women to understand what is normal or safe in relationships. I believe open communication about experiences is typically very healthy and helps build community amongst each other. Though of course it is very important to respect the other party’s privacy and boundaries.
ReplyDeleteI think that women often do share lots of things with the people they are closest to. Personally speaking, my friends and family are some of the most cherished relationships that are present in my life. They treat me with love and respect, and they truly want what's best for me, and tell me when I may need to redirect my path. My friends treat me how I would want to be treated, and I do the same for them. Having people who you are able to learn and grow alongside, and who are also there to catch you when you fall is extremely important to have. I enjoy sharing these things, but I also enjoy keeping privacy in some instances. I am not one to overshare, but I do enjoy talking to people about emotions that I may not be able to regulate as easily to a significant other. I think that there are definitely boundaries when it comes to these discussions, but I ultimately see this in a positive light.
ReplyDeleteI think that women often do share lots of things with the people they are closest to. Personally speaking, my friends and family are some of the most cherished relationships that are present in my life. They treat me with love and respect, and they truly want what's best for me, and tell me when I may need to redirect my path. My friends treat me how I would want to be treated, and I do the same for them. Having people who you are able to learn and grow alongside, and who are also there to catch you when you fall is extremely important to have. I enjoy sharing these things, but I also enjoy keeping privacy in some instances. I am not one to overshare, but I do enjoy talking to people about emotions that I may not be able to regulate as easily to a significant other. I think that there are definitely boundaries when it comes to these discussions, but I ultimately see this in a positive light.
DeleteI believe women often share things to each other that most men wouldn't. I feel like women do this to seek advice and figure how to properly communicate with the boy they are talking to. Coming from my own experience, my friends and I often tell each other because we want to hear each others opinions. I feel like this is a good thing. As friends we are just trying to help our other friends be happy in there relationships. I think that it can get to a certain point. Not every little detail of a relationship should be broadcasted.
ReplyDelete6. Communal Dating
ReplyDeleteI do believe the early stage of dating is a communal experience; however, I believe it is both women and men who have the habit of disclosing their dating lives. The beginning of any experience can seem exciting and terrifying. Talking among the people you trust can allow you to gain insight into things you did not know and help you talk through what you are thinking. Relaying how you feel, what you have done, and what might come next is not inherently bad. The point at which you cross the line is when you talk about intimate conversations and actions without the consent of the other person. Some people are fine with discussing the actions that took place during more intimate times, while others are less comfortable, and that's fine. However, the idea that women gossip more seems to stem from women feeling more comfortable talking in detail about anything and everything. At the same time, men are usually less detailed when they talk. Being communicative allows others to gauge how things are going and catch anything that rose-colored glasses might be covering up. I see it as negative when the other person is unaware that you are disclosing everything to someone else after they thought it was being kept private.
I think that this statement can be true in some cases but definitely not all. Some people are simply more private with their relationships and decide not to share information even with their close friends. However, I do believe that women are more likely to talk about these things with their friends then men are. Talking about emotional experiences can be very vulnerable at times and I have noticed throughout life that many men aren’t as comfortable with vulnerability as some women. This isn’t meant to be a diss against either men or women its simply just something I’ve noticed. This vulnerability and communication amongst friends can be beneficial when someone needs advice or support about a certain situation. However, it can also be very bad. Privacy in a relationship is very important and should be cherished but that is impossible to have if both parties are constantly telling their friends every detail.
ReplyDeleteThis comment is mine I just forgot to change it from anonymous. Whoops.
DeleteI believe that women are more probable to share a lot more details about their personal life and relationships to some of their most closest friend groups, especially women. I’ve seen this happen first hand, and I’ll admit myself that I had done this before, just because I would feel unsure about certain things and would need someone else’s opinion about it. I don’t do this anymore, because I believe now that I have grown as a person, that this, in a way, is an invasion of privacy and something intimate between you and the person you are seeing romantically. Not everyone should know what is going in your life, and maybe your lover is uncomfortable with that as well. Not everyone would suspect or think that you are sharing your dating life to others, and this could lead to complications. I do believe, though, that some men would be prone to doing this as well with their own friends, with specific topics, especially in today’s generation. Some men also don’t think as empathetically as women do and are more practical.
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