Should married women have friends of the opposite sex?

Close friends are always present in our lives, regardless of their body shape, size and gender, so it is not uncommon for some married women to have male best friends. This does not cause problems for the marriage, because a pure friendship will make relationships better. In other words, it’s not a big deal if you’re happily married, but it can be a concern if there are potential problems in your life. However, everyone’s relationships are different, so you’ll have a lot to consider. That’s why we’ll help you answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this friendship.

Table of Contents

Can married women be friends with other men?

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Yes – it’s not just because she’s married that she doesn’t get to choose her friends. Relationships are complicated, and just because a woman is friends with the opposite sex doesn’t mean she’s romantically attracted to him, either physically or emotionally. Furthermore, relationships will change over time. Studies have shown that emotional and physical attraction in friendships generally fades over time. ^{[1] X Research Source}

This means pure friendship is there, so there’s no reason why women can’t be friends with men.

Can a married woman be friends with a single guy?

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Of course it is – as long as there is no deception here. The wife shouldn’t lie about spending time with this close friend. The key is that she must be honest with her partner so that the friendship does not hurt the couple’s feelings.

If the husband does not feel comfortable, the couple needs to have a serious talk to resolve the issue that makes them worry about the wife’s friendship.

Can men and women simply be friends?

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Yes – have healthy and close heterosexual relationships. People can have emotional attachments with people they are not sexually attracted to. These relationships pose no threat to their marriage. ^{[2] X Research Source}

In fact, a husband should encourage his wife to have friends without interfering in her choice of friends.

What’s wrong with being friends with a married woman?

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No – as long as you both understand the relationship between the two. Many married women don’t mind having best friends of the opposite sex at all, but provided there is no romantic flutter between the two. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

It is important that you consider your husband’s reaction as well. If they don’t want their wives to have close male friends, they will have to discuss this friendship.

Should I be concerned if my wife has male best friends?

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There’s no need to worry, but you should talk to her if you’re upset. Don’t hide your feelings – let her know you’re worried or insecure. Instead of giving her an ultimatum that might push your wife away, talk to her about boundaries that can put you at ease.

For example, you could say, “I know you and Quang are friends, but it’s better if he doesn’t call home late at night.”
The conversation isn’t necessarily a one-off. You can talk to your wife every time you feel her best friend interrupting your relationship. For example, say “I want to talk to you about Khuong’s recent behavior. I noticed he started flirting with you. You don’t like that.”
You may be concerned if your marriage has ever had trust issues. You may not trust your wife if she has cheated on you in the past, or maybe you cheated yourself and thought she might too. Either way, it’s a good idea to talk to each other or see a love, marriage, and family counselor.

What do I do when my friendship starts to have a romantic vibe?

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Perhaps it is best to break up the friendship to save the marriage. If you feel that you and your best friend are starting to develop romantic feelings or feelings of sexual attraction, then you definitely need to talk to them. Gently but honestly explain that it might be better for the two of you to stop seeing each other. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

For example, you could say, “Honey, I’ve been thinking a lot about our friendship. Looks like I’m starting to like you, which isn’t fair to my husband. So I won’t see you again.”
Another example: “Toan, lately I feel like Toan is flirting with me, but I only have friendship with Toan. Maybe we shouldn’t hang out together anymore.”

Advice

There is no rule that a married woman can be friends with a man, so you should keep this in mind when analyzing your relationship.

Steps