Many studies investigating gender differences in friendships have assumed that friendships were same-sex relationships. Only a few studies have focused on friendships between the sexes and most of these have used college student samples. This study examined friendships of 156 professional men and women using a self-report questionnaire consisting of rating scales and open-ended questions. Four types of friendships were compared: women's same-sex and cross-sex and men's same-sex and cross-sex. The results indicated that while both sexes viewed the characteristics of an ideal friendship in similar ways, their actual experiences of friendship differed. Women's same-sex friendships were rated higher for overall quality, intimacy, enjoyment, and nurturance, while men's cross-sex friendships were rated higher in these areas (with the exception of intimacy which was rated the same by men in both same-sex and cross-sex friendships). Cross-sex friendships provided both sexes with new understandings and perspectives of the opposite sex. Though both sexes reported generally keeping friendships and sexual relationships separate, sexual feelings and tensions created dissatisfaction in a sizable minority of cross-sex friendships. These reuslts are similar to findings from studies with college students, suggesting that women's participation in professional roles has not resulted in dramatic changes in friendship patterns. Charts and a bibliography are included. (Author/NB)