At this point in my journey, it would appear that the only thing I got going for me are the well
meaning supportive friendships I'm learning to make and a belief in myself and some natural talents I was born with but never developed when I was a church member.
On the one hand, they can be very beneficial because women tend to be more empathetic and affectionate with each other and value intimacy more than men do.4 Women tend to be very
supportive when their female friends are under stress; they engage in what psychologists refer to as «tend - and - befriend» behaviors.5 This
means that women respond to each other's needs by forming
friendship alliances and comforting one another during difficult times.