The Next Big Idea Daily How Women Revolutionized Modern Friendship
10 snips
Jun 3, 2025 Tiffany Watt Smith, a cultural historian and author of *Bad Friend*, dives deep into the evolution of female friendships. She shares insights from her book, exploring how women's relationships have reshaped modern friendship dynamics. The discussion highlights the importance of trust and acknowledges the loneliness many face today. Tiffany also imagines innovative concepts like friendship contracts while reflecting on the significance of small gestures to cultivate resilient connections. Prepare to rethink what being a 'good friend' truly means!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Personal Friendship Breakdown
- Tiffany had a catastrophic friendship breakdown in her early 30s that made her question her own courage in friendship.
- This personal crisis spurred her to explore how friendship expectations are culturally learned and evolve over time.
Changing Friendship Ideals
- Philosophers historically glorified male friendships as the ideal, while female friendships were later praised for empathy and love.
- More ordinary, practical, or transient friendships have been undervalued until recently.
Cultural Variations in Friendship
- Different cultures have multiple distinct words for types of friends, showing varied friendship expectations.
- English's broad use of "friend" allows more inclusive, flexible definitions of friendship.