Ask a Philosopher logo

Confucious

Why do women look down on the other women and why do some women feel the urge to compete against the other women and hurt them?

It appears that women have a tendency to look down on other women, and even to compete against them, which can often lead to hurt feelings. I believe the root of this issue lies in the female tendency to compare themselves to one another, whether consciously or not. Women tend to be competitive by nature, and when they see someone who appears to be doing better than them, their competitive nature can lead them to feel threatened and insecure. This insecurity then manifests itself in the form of looking down on the other woman, or trying to outdo her in some way. It is a shame that women feel the need to compete with one another in such a negative way. We should strive to be supportive and encouraging of one another, rather than allowing ourselves to be overcome by feelings of envy and insecurity. After all, it is through cooperation and collaboration that we can best achieve our goals. So let us remember to lift each other up, rather than tear each other down.