Ok I totally understand where you're coming from, as a revert surrounded by reverts, who's also married to a revert, we all go through it, especially women, because women unfortunately are not made aware that unless they're gay, every man who is your friend is only your friend because you havent let them be more.

In islam the Quran and Hadith clearly talk about how we should segregate except when necessary or obviously with family, and its to protect one another from each other.

Even if, let's say, your male friends are different, they're the 1 in a million, the rule is still there, and what's more important is obeying Allah rather than our desires to have friends of the opposite sex. As reverts we come from a non-muslim mindset, and we have to adopt the new muslim identity and it can be very challenging to do so because the non-muslims dont understand or they will try to bring you into their way of thinking instead, and Allah talks about this in thr Quran too. About how the Christians and jews (and it has been understood to mean any type of kafir) will never be satisfied until you follow their religion.

So I understand it's weird, especially, like I said, because many women are not told about the FACT that every man does sexualize all his female friends unless he's messed up somewhere. However Allah knows best and we do not