I've consistently noted how men who have close friends who are female tend to develop a far greater sense of "emotional vocabulary" than those men who predominantly socialise with other men. There is an opportunity for these relationships to be a space for vulnerability, allowing men the ability to practice empathy and active listening and ultimately provide a priority on understanding rather than problem-solving in that moment. This cross-gender relationship also serves as an important social bridge, allowing men to be much more nuanced in understanding complex interpersonal dynamics without having to be defensive. The idea is to move beyond the "problem-solver" default that many men are conditioned to. When you leave this social paradigm, you discover that the most valuable outcome is not only a greater understanding of others but also a clearer understanding of one's own emotional universe.