Another way of looking at the 'friend zone'

[bolase]

Our culture (Western culture by and large on this forum) allows some men to feel so entitled to sex that there is a socially acceptable term for a friendship with a WOMAN WHO WONT HAVE SEX WITH YOU. (Friend zone). Like having a friend is some kind of hardship.

[Never Again]

I too saw that tweet from Joss Whedon.

 

Frankly, it's not just about men and it's not always about sex.

 

Have I heard women use it? Sure have.

 

Have I heard it used as a synonym for "unrequited love"? Gee whiz, I sure have!

 

I hear it used more out of disappointment than lamenting a hardship.

 

"I wanted to ask her out, but I'm in the friendzone (sadface)."

 

"My boyfriend just broke up with me, but wants to be friends. It hurts too much to be friendzoned by him."

 

Yes, it's also used to refer to sex, but then again...so was "unrequited love", and that predates "friendzone" by several centuries.

[Eggplant]

Friendships can lead to romance. But I think the "friend zone" doesn't really mean you are true friends but rather casual acquaintances -- the person you want to like you isn't interested. I don't think it's existence as a term implies that men generally feel entitled to sex with their friends.