A new study out of Winchester University finds that the vast majority of straight guys now prefer their bromances over their romances with women and that it may be affecting traditional domestic living arrangements between men and women.
A total of 30 male undergrads participated in the study, which was published in the journal Men and Masculinities.
Related: New study finds straight dudes in bromances often hug, kiss, and share their most intimate secrets
Adam White, who authored the study, says, “The key thing that we found was that bromances were somewhat more flexible and judgement-free relationships comparable to romances.”
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He continues: “The guys that we spoke to were clear that the only differences, other than sex, were that bromances were less judgmental, easier to resolve problems or arguments, and much more emotionally open, than romances.”
28 of the 30 respondents said they preferred to talk about important emotional issues with their bromantic partners rather than with their girlfriends.
One participants named Brad explains: “There are absolutely things I tell my bromances and not the girlfriend. She expects so much from the relationship and will have a go if I say something out of line, and with Matt we just tell each other everything.”
White says the vast majority of the guys reported feeling that there was “less regulation in their bromantic relationships.”
“They didn’t feel like there was a standard to be kept or adhered to. Therefore, they could express their feelings, anxieties and worries without being judged by their girlfriends. And on the occasions where conflict did occur, it was seen as easier to fix with their bromances rather than their romances.”
And when it comes to stuff like hugging and kissing their bros, many of the guys said they were down with that.
One participant named Beck explains, “Guys nowadays, in my generation, there is so much kissing between guys because it’s showing affection.”
This study also found that guys are more willing to “openly pronounce love” their for one another than they were in the past, that they are less worried about “appearing effeminate.”
Related: The Art Of The Bromance, As Told Through Homoerotic Modern Dance
Josh447
Guys have always just like girls, banded together for bro talk that has its own boundaries. I do like the kissing and hugging part, that’s new and cool.
When all the paternal stigma melts away, along with toxic ancient religion in general, I think we are going to see a labeless society in the future. Time to bring back Greek culture “with benefits”.
Donston
The Romans were never accepting of genuine homosexual relationships. Men and women were still expected to have hetero marriages and only have hetero relationships publicly. Homosexual behavior between men was only acceptable if one of the males was very feminized or not an adult. And homosexual behavior in general was not nearly as prevalent as many used to assume. People toss homosexuality on top of the hedonistic tales of the Romans, but hedonism was also greatly overstated. So, we need to stop pretending as if the Romans were some super “progressive” and “free-spirited” society. Finally, almost all of these “studies” by random universities are incredibly suspect.
qlm
Greeks and Romans arent the same.
Donston
The Romans carried most the same traditions and social forms as the Greeks. Less is known about Ancient Greece, and the Roman Empire was generally considered more Liberal until its collapse. Still, most of the extreme social behaviors and general “acceptance” of virtually anything is wildly overstated. Myth has altered the perception of both.
jussie_roderick
I covered this for a video at my job. I don’t think this is revolutionary news. Bromances have always existed and been presented in mainstream media. Obama-Biden is one of the cutest bromances ever.
Donston
Men have always been flirtatious and touchy-feely with each other and people have always “dabbled”. “Bromance” is just some cheesy phrase pushed by hetero-worshiping gay/gay-leaning men and women turned on by what they perceive to be subversive male sexuality.
Donston
Also, this is basically a “study” on tight male friendships, which is all a “bromance” is.
I like that more men are less caught up in the stigma of conventional masculinity and are willing to share more with each other. But I fell to see what it has to do with gay and gay-leaning men, beyond, as I said, hetero-worship and people being turned on by straight-identifying men showing affection to each other.
eeebee333
One shouldn’t come to too many conclusions based on the responses of 30 undergrads.
Paco
It’s called being “best friends”. Nothing new except the millennial need to relabel things and treat it like it is a new phenomenon.
JohnMc888
Fascinating. In many traditional societies where male and females lived half in separate spheres, “true love” in the marriaed hoemeant that the wife had an intensely close relationship with another woam, usually a sister or cousin. They openly shared everyhthing, things they could not share with their husbands. This was true with my mother, even though in our family the husband and wife were real friends an open with each other). Maybe that’s why I three intense bromances with straight guys back in the 70s and 80’s. I was a safer confidante than their girlfriends and we were relaxed, undemanding, non-judgmental cuddlers. This was good for me because I never went to the bars and had just as few boyfriends.
silveroracle
I’ve been watching the bromance on YouTube between Adam Levine and Blake Shelton on The Voice USA and it’s so loving.
I don’t think that the sex side always has to be the be all and end all. I think that the love is much more
surfpenis
It’s not *really* a true bromance unless the guys bump peckers!
Mmmrrrggglll
LOL. Spoken like a true bro! 🙂
jd.cali
Wait… seriously… 30 responses? We are basing any data on 30 responses? You are republishing an article on 30 responses?
No offense but SHUT UP!
Cinesnatch
This is Queerty. They’re not really into science and quantitative studies.
Hermes
With all due respect, this is not an academic publication – however the publication that published the study IS a peer reviewed academic publication. Unless your doctorate happens to be in Sociology (mine is not, I’m a STEM person) perhaps you should mind your business in-as-far as scholarly suitability is concerned.