Five things I have learned about…female friends

While it took her a while to develop close friendships with women, Cathy Madavan shares why she believes they are invaluable

Truth be told, I was not exactly the popular kid growing up. In fact, I was the insecure, skinny kid with braces and super-short hair (some people thought I was actually a boy). Alongside my physical awkwardness, I couldn’t seem to access the apparent female code – the cliques, the flirtatious behaviour, the relational drama and the obsession with fashion. Indeed, during my teen years, many of my closest friends were teachers and fellow musicians (a bit nerdy I accept) or boys, who seemed so much more straightforward.