I'm a hetero guy and I've always been way more comfortable around females or gay guys. It's almost like I feel as if I have to compete for status when around other straight males, or that I'm being judged by them. Maybe that's a personal insecurity thing. Then again, I have no idea why I'm more comfortable around gay guys. Heck, I even find gay bars much more comfortable (and thus more fun) than conventional bars.

Given the choice, I'd much rather hang out with a group of gals than a group of guys.

Bridget,
maybe you feel more comfortable around men since there is already from the get go a point in your favour for your feminine wiles.

The feeling of 'not being sure' makes all of us feel shy; feeling that feeling a little at a time helps us to feel less shy.
:)

I can totally relate--I find it so much easier to get to know guys than to get to know other women! Like Fishy said (for me anyway) there is always the "attraction" card to play--feeling attractive is always an instant confidence booster. And with guys it is so easy to exchange telephone numbers and go out with women it always feels like the move from acquaintance to friend is so much more complicated. The last year or so I have been realizing how the genders of my friends have been skewed towards the male portion of the population and I have been really making a point of getting to know other girls. The downsides of having male friends is all the romantic attachments that complicate things--I've lost great friends over that issue!

Kitty

Yeah I have the same issue....totally awkward around other hetero girls. I'm not happy about it because I dont feel like guys or girls accept me as a friend(with the guys there always seems to be a non-platonic element). It sucks, I feel very alone and not belonging. I wish that I had some kind of true platonic comradery..may that be with girls or guys....

I know this post is a little old but this thread has sparked a bit of curiosity in me. I have the opposite problem. I feel safe around women but around men, I'm constantly worried that I'm being judged, especially for my appearance.
Perhaps that's because growing up, boys made my life a living hell because of my looks. I've past those ugly years but now when I get attention from males, I have a hard time trusting them, knowing how they've treated me in the past when I looked differently.
When I was a kid, other girls were my salvation because they were the ones who treated me well (perhaps that's because they certainly didn't view me as competition - lol!).
I think your appearance or even your appearance when you were growing up makes a big difference in whether you unconsciously perceive other women as less safe or even as potential competitors. I've come across some extremely beautiful women who've said they have always felt better around men than around other women. That's understandable- they get more positive attention from men than they do from other women, who seem to be immediately intimidated by them.
Believe me, this dynamic would be very different if they weren't so attractive.

As a heterosexual male, I am generally very shy around women I am attracted to. I know how women feel when I like them and they do not like me. I sense the rough equivalence when a gay man hit on me. He was nice enough to scold me with: "Well, no one likes to be with someone who doesn't like them." Sometimes, I want to say that to the women, so that I can just get some perspective. I am not interested in dating them if I am way off. Hence, I am shy because I know the intrusiveness of interest.

i have a hard time getting to know another woman yet alone asking asking her if she wants to hang out. i felt comfortable with either sex but now, every str8 guy i met didnt seem to respect me i was pretty much a piece of meat 4 them. very few men i met were actually real men who didnt view me as a sex maniac. id rather be friends with a gay guy than a str8 guy cuz i dont have to worry about a str8 guy trying to get into my pants. my fiance was one of the few men who actually showed me respect by not trying to get into my pants. in a way, i still find it kinda hard to be friends with a str8 guy.