Friend zone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The friend zone (or friendship zone) is a popular psychology concept found in many texts geared towards a male audience about "dating advice." It refers to the situation where the female has begun to view a male as a friend only and not a potential suitor, a psychological classification supposedly exceptionally difficult to undo.
Sex columnist Catherine Townsend cites a feared loss of romance and mystery as well as a fear of rejection.[1] On the other hand, Cosmopolitan magazine notes that in a 2001 Match.com survey, 71% of respondents hoped that they would fall in love with a friend.[2] It has also been suggested that women may also become victims of the "friend zone".[3]
[edit] Popularization
The term friend zone was popularized by a 1994 episode of the television sitcom Friends, where the character Ross Geller, lovesick for Rachel Green, was labeled "Mayor of the Friend Zone".[4] The question of whether a man can ever "escape 'The Friend Zone' and begin dating one of his female friends" was key to what made the Ross and Rachel pairing on the show a "geek dream couple".[5]
The 2005 film Just Friends also deals with the "friend zone" and how it impacts on the main character of the film (played by Ryan Reynolds) when he re-unites with his female friend from high school (played by Amy Smart) for the first time in 10 years after an incident at a high school graduation party at her home in which she said that she loves him "like a brother", dashing any hopes of him having her as a girlfriend.[6]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Catherine Townsend (February 21, 2006). "Sex that was worth waiting for". The Independent. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20060221/ai_n16159759. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
- ^ "When you fall for a guy pal: the "just friends" zone is like relationship quicksand, but you can get out with a few strategic maneuvers.". Cosmopolitan. http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-15951082_ITM. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
- ^ "Just friends - why it happens?", AskMen.com
- ^ "Friends: The One With the Blackout Recap". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/friends/the-one-with-the-blackout/episode/351/recap.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
- ^ "IGN's Top 10 Favorite TV Couples". IGN. http://tv.ign.com/articles/764/764349p2.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-14.
- ^ "Amy Smart on Just Friends", RadioFree.com Interviews (Nov. 5, 2005)
