In what some may find unsurprising news, a study conducted by the University of Texas has this week revealed that heterosexual women interact more comfortably and intimately with gay men than straight men.
Published in , the report included information from over 150 heterosexual women about their varying comfort levels around men. It was found that a majority of women conversed more easily after learning the men they’d been paired with were gay.
“This suggests that straight women approach friendships with gay men in a very open and relaxed fashion, which we do not usually see in interactions between opposite-sex individuals,” lead author Eric M. Russell said in an interview with
He continued: “Straight women and gay men likely see their friendships as safe spaces where they can have fun, be themselves, and engage in intimate conversations without fear of judgement, expectations, or one-sided sexual interest,” he explained.
Russell said that women were often guarded around straight men due to unwarranted perceptions of sexual interest.
“This is especially true of physically attractive women, who are often wary of straight men wanting more than a platonic relationship with them,” he said.
“However, when these women discover that they are interacting with gay men, this anxiety is greatly reduced. With gay men, women can engage more openly and intimately with them because they do not have to worry about the men having an ulterior sexual motive.”
The study suggests that gay men and straight women find a safe place with each other. Source: Twitter
“The psychology of gay-straight friendships is not only a new and exciting area of exploration for not just researchers but also for pro-LGBT organizations and businesses,” Russell added.
Well, who would've guessed?
