All too often I have heard it said, “Women are their own worse enemies.” We are often seen as unsupportive of each other; bullying each other in the workplace, sabotaging friendships, fighting over men, and just down right bitchy towards one another. There are a number of women who have completely abandoned any attempts towards friendships with other women, preferring instead the companionship of men, or sometimes even their dog, over what they see as a “fickle” relationship with another woman. It breaks my heart to think that women are too catty and backstabbing to support each other, but several nights a week you can witness these types of toxic relationships amongst women, played out on any one of the many reality TV housewife series.
Many women have told me that, as they’ve matured, they see a significant difference in their relationships with other women. They say that while in their youth, they may have considered other women to be their competition, they now long for the nurturing relationships of female companions. Not a large group of women, because they now have the maturity and wisdom to know the difference between a friend, an acquaintance, a business associate, and who to keep at a distance. But they agree that it’s their core group of real female friends that they can count on to support, encourage, and cheer them on when the going gets tough.
My hope is that all women will begin to make a conscious effort to support, nurture, and build each other up. We need to make sure our daughters and granddaughters get this message, so it becomes a mindset and a way of being for women at a much younger age. From the boardroom to the bedroom, have your sisters back. Don’t mess with her money, and don’t mess with her man. When women band together; help each other, network better, and support each to the fullest – it’s a powerful thing. We can be more, do more, have more, and give more, when we advocate for, and become champions for each other.
