Describe the gender differences in same-sex adult friendships

What will be an ideal response?

Extending a pattern evident in childhood and adolescence, women have more intimate same-sex friendships than men. Barriers to intimacy between male friends include competitiveness, which may make men unwilling to disclose weaknesses, and concern that if they tell about themselves, their friends will not reciprocate. Because of greater intimacy and give-and-take, women generally evaluate their same-sex friendships more positively than men do. But they also have higher expectations of friends. Thus, they are more disapproving if friends do not meet their expectations. Of course, individual differences in friendship quality exist. The longer-lasting men's friendships are, the closer they become and the more they include disclosure of personal information. And gay and lesbian romantic relationships often develop out of close same-sex friendships, with lesbians, especially, forging compatible friendships before becoming romantically involved. As they develop romantic ties and marry, young adults—especially men—direct more of their disclosures toward their partners. Still, friendships continue to be vital contexts for personal sharing throughout adulthood.