The Restoration of Faith

”The friendship between a man and a woman which does not lead to marriage or desire for marriage may be a life long experience of the greatest value to themselves and to all their circle of acquaintance and of activity; but for this type of friendship both a rare man and a rare woman are needed.”

- Anna Garlin Spencer

I realize that Ms. Spencer was saying this at the beginning of the 20th century, a time in which relationships between men and women were often limited to specific roles. She was right, however, that there is something special and important about the completely platonic lifelong friendship between a man and woman. There is something reassuring and almost familial about it. In a world where more women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime than will not, a world in which our gender roles are ever new and evolving, The Man Who Doesn’t Want To Sleep With You is a precious commodity and an invaluable friend to have along for the journey.

Sometimes you need to spend time with a friend who helps you remember that, in spite of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, Men are not actually the enemy.

I mean, some of them are... But not men on the whole.