Step 1
HAVING GENDER OPPOSITE FRIENDS: When I started dating, the women I was with usually had a large amount of male friends. Ironically I now have more female friends and can see issues on both sides. Some of my previous girlfriends were able to express their concerns. In both cases, exposure to friends and others a few times helped to quench the jealousy. I noticed that not having a strong circle of friends was a key indicator of the level of jealousy. Having no friends is a big red flag.
PARTNER HAVING NO HOBBIES OR INTERESTS BUT YOU: It seems cute when they say that they cannot live or function without you. But the cuteness fades away when they expect you to sing and dance at every encounter. To combat this, find a way to branch out and do something different in a safe manner where they can find their own individuality and have some time to take it in.
Also set boundaries and be firm.
PRIORITIES AND RANKING: I dated a woman that had a very large entourage that hardly seemed to disappear. Her best friends were a male hating woman and a guy that wanted to get that promotion to the boyfriend waiting list. Despite my best attempts to get along it was difficult. I asked her about “alone” time and she told me to accept them and that they would be around much longer than me.
Letting the other person know how they rank in your life can solve a lot of problems early on and may reduce the jealousy.
COMMUNICATION: Talking should help for some. Relationships are complicated and there may need to be some kind of explanation to prevent confusion. I am aware of female survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault that may have a large number of male friends. Many males are unaware of survivor issues and it may take them some time to understand and deal with possible issues of jealousy, especially if the friends receive more attention and the partner is left in the dark
