The Difference Between Romantic Love And Platonic Love
Long before I ever came to an understanding of my own sexuality, I always found connection and fulfillment in my close friendships. In high school and college, dating never made a lot of sense to me. Looking back, this was probably because while I was physically attracted to men, my romantic interest in them was small to nonexistent.
However, sometime during the Renaissance platonic love adopted the meaning we attach to it today, that of a close, heterosexual bond devoid of sensuality. At.
Questioning whether deep friendships that cross the gender divide can remain completely platonic is nothing new. Does evolution really make it impossible for men and women to be friends? However, sometime during the Renaissance platonic love adopted the meaning we attach to it today, that of a close, heterosexual bond devoid of sensuality.
Nowadays we talk about platonic relationships in a somewhat cynical sense; is an entirely amicable tie really achievable between and man and a woman, or will sex always enter into the equation? The most prominent reservation people hold about platonic relationships stems from our understanding of human evolution. According to canonical science, men and women are hardwired to procreate.
For better or for worse, this basic scientific fact informs gender relations between men and women on a daily basis. The root of this contentious standpoint is the concern that normative masculinity somehow subordinates femininity and puts an unrealistic emphasis on sex . It follows then that men struggle to with platonic love owing to the pressure they feel to conform to the norm. Overstepping binaries and identifying how our own gender shapes interaction is definitely part of the challenge. But having a healthy and honest platonic relationship can be conducive to a happier life.
Here are five unisex tips on how to forge and maintain one.