Women consider friendships as important as romantic relationships: study

As the old saying goes, don’t put all your eggs into one basket. Women are doing just that by putting a bigger emphasis on friendships ever before compared to how they tackle dating.

New research from Connected Women, which helps women over 50 build community, revealed that 81 percent of women over 18 consider friendships as important to them as romantic relationships.

This is a statistic backed up by a study from the University of California Los Angeles, which revealed more than half of adolescents between 10 and 24 want to see platonic relationships depicted in films and television more.

Jacqui Manning, who is the resident psychologist at Connected Women, told news.com.au she wasn’t surprised by the statistic at all.

“Overall, humans are tribal ‘animals’, and we need people in our lives to enrich them but as we age, the type of relationship we need starts to shift,” she said.

“As the traditional family unit has changed over the past decades, with more choices to live a life you want, not one that is socially expected, it means that friendships take on an even greater significance than they have in the past (and they’ve always been important).

“And, as we age, our values, priorities, and the things we need from those relationships start to change.”

She said it’s also essential to remember there is nothing wrong with having emotional needs met in the form of friendships, contrary to cultural norms that tell us we need a romantic partner to meet all of our needs.

It’s not an entirely new concept – Michelle Williams has gone on record saying Busy Phillips is the love of her life, and that their friendship is “proof” your great love doesn’t have to be a man.

“Many women are choosing not to partner romantically as they are not dependent on that being a factor in their lives, as opposed to past generations, so these friendships become like family,” she said.

“In addition, with the help of modern technology, there are new ways in which friends can be made. There are more and more online platforms, for women of all ages, which are emerging that aim to bring like-minded women together.”

And, although Gen Z is at a completely different stage in life compared to the women Manning works with, they are not immune to this shift.

Commenting on the results from the UCLA study, Manning said young people are more discerning and wiser than any generation that has come before them due to the exposure to the internet.

“They have more choices than ever before in how they live and what they prioritize,” she said.

“In light of this evolution, there’s a discernible desire among this generation to witness their own lives and relationships authentically portrayed in popular culture. For Gen Z, this translates into a notable shift from the cultural landscape shaped by the romance-centric narratives that defined the upbringing of Gen X.

“Instead, there is an increasing emphasis on highlighting the importance of friendships, diverging from the prevailing romantic-centric focus.”

She said the choices available to Gen Z will continue to expand. Thus, the trend of valuing friendships on par with romantic relationships becomes a pivotal moment in the shift of societal norms.

“There will always be a place for romance for women of all ages if they choose that; however, what the statistic tells us is that these romantic connections are not the be-all and end-all of our happiness, and we can live fulfilled lives without a romantic partner,” she said.