I often hear a reoccurring motif of “women wanna be friends with guys, but all their guys friends just wanna have sex with them.” But as a straight dude, who’s predominantly friends with girls and very clearly has no interest in them (if not they wouldn’t be my friend anymore, I’d pursue them romantically duh), I’ve found this to be largely untrue. Once many women realize you aren’t trying to have sex with them, they immediately either assume you are gay or take great offense to the fact you don’t see them as a suitable partner. I’ve lost so many female friendships when I revealed I was straight because they were bewildered by the fact that I’m straight and didn’t ever try to make a move on them. I’ve also been told by women that me being straight makes our friendship impossible because I don’t “understand sisterhood.” Is being gay the only way to be seen as safe and friendly by women?? Honestly, it seems like the patriarchy is so fucked that some women find it offensive to NOT be seen purely as objects of sexual validation by men who are “supposed to” only pursue them for sex or a relationship.