CNN: What makes women feel close, platonically, and why can our relationships feel so fragile? The three things that make women feel very close and connected are support, symmetry and secrecy, which I call the three affinities of female friendship. These are also the things that can make our friendships feel fragile. 1 thing women look for in their same-sex friendships is emotional support. And because of that courage, I’ve noticed my own friendships feel a lot more satisfying.

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Persons: Danielle Bayard Jackson, Jackson, ” Jackson, sociolinguistics, Shaniya Clarke, We’re, it’s, “, I’ve, ”, I’m, you’re, that’s, Terry Ward Organizations: CNN, Research, Hachette Locations: Florida, Tampa