Have you noticed how many women seem to demean other women?

Question

And I'm probably guilty of this too. But in the answers to the question posted below, I noticed several women posters (assumption based on name and/or avatar) who were demeaning other women, either for *only having basic people skills* or for *being homemakers or stay at home wives being the equivalent of prostitutes*

Why are women some of their own worst enemies? Why do women demean each other's choices so much? How can we ever expect men to respect and admire us if we can't even do it?


http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoDeVG2j6yaYBNOTqQFM4roYxgt.;_ylv=3?qid=20071130223717AAcoSap

Answer 1

I agree. Having studied women's issues at Cornell, I have spent years considering your very observation. And, I truly think that our behavior towards our own sex may be an evolved biological trait. Evolutionary psychology, a field that has just taken off in the last 10 years or so, may bring us more answers in the future. But, women dissing other women is so ubiquitous and so difficult to stifle (like you said, we do it ourselves even when we try not to!) that it must be more than cultural. An interesting study would be to see if we are meaner to fellow women during PMS or during ovulation. It would make sense that our primordial female ancestors used aggression to compete against rivals for mates. Just a thought. Great question!

Answer 2

I agree with your insight. I'm not sure if it's a hormonal thing, just read on. I am a Nurse and for the most part, Nurse's are generally female. Imagine what happens when we all seem to be PMS ing at the same time ?? Not an excuse for another female to demean another but, it happens. Women tend to hold grudges forever, yet, with men, they confront the problem and all is forgiven ( generally) but, this is not necessarily true of females. Why ?? Who really knows!! It could be jealousy, the need to feel that they have degraded another to make themselves feel or appear better. Then, of course, there is the environmental factor. Again, not an excuse, but, a child is raised with certain beliefs/factors and they grow up with a view that is a learned behavior or, response. The more secure and confident that a female is, there is less chance of this type of behavior. I have often wondered the same as yourself. But, I don't think it's a question that can have only one answer. Ok, so, now I'm prepared for several thumbs down. This is my opinion, observations, and personal experience/knowledge.

Answer 3

I've noticed that. I didn't mean to make a political analogy but a perfect example is many women who hate Hillary Clinton. Many women and men hate her just because she's a powerful woman. Some people try to say she's a communist but she's actually the most moderate of all the democratic candidates. I know that's not exactly the answer you were looking for but I think it relates. I wish women would unite and stand together instead of attacking each other for the professions we choose, (including stay at home mothers, or making money waitressing) We'll never advance in the world when we attack each other.

Answer 4

I seriously doubt the avatar chosen is a female and perhaps you shouldn't be so quick to jump to conclusions.

Possibly what you're referring to, is a difference of opinion - not demeaning each other. Only a guy would equate a stay at home mom with a prostitute - a woman wouldn't because prostitutes make their living off the comings and goings of John's - homemakers don't. They care for the home and children of 'their' John - indentured slavery is not a profession.

Answer 5

Have you ever noticed how many men laugh at other men, make fun of them, mock them, call them gay, girls, fem; how many men beat each other up, stab each other, murder each other? I don't see how women are any "meaner" or demeaning to other women than men are to other men. It's just more socially acceptable for men to be cruel to each other, but women are pressured more to be "nice" to women and men, and women are punished more for not being "nice".

Have you ever spent a day in the corporate business world? How do you think men treat each other there, and how they treat anyone else that they have control over? I've watched men scream at each other at work, back stab, take other men's jobs, get men fired, all in the name of getting ahead. Give me a break about how awful women are to each other. Men can be vicious, diabolical, lying cheats who'll back-stab anyone in their path to get the money, power or glory they think they deserve.

Cruelty is not a female or male problem, it's a human issue.

Answer 6

I totally agree with you and think it comes down to the fact that you can't beat socialization. You can make a conscious effort to recondition yourself but that reconditioning is like tearing down an old house and building a new one on the same foundation. We get upset when men make comments like "you know how women are," and challenge that assumption and claim that we don't "know how women are" but, at the same time, when we're talking to our female friends and they say the same thing we know exactly what they're talking about.

It really comes down to competition. A lot of women seem to forget that another woman being attractive doesn't preclude you from being attractive as well. Another woman getting attention doesn't mean that you're not going to get attention too. It's ridiculous. There's plenty of attention, men, praise, attractiveness to go around.

Answer 7

Some women are angry at homemakers for not taking full advantage of the freedoms other women have fought so hard for. I personally don't care what they do, as long as they're happy and they can take care of themselves.

Answer 8

Only unhappy people like to demean other people.

Why would women want to work at Hooters?

For some stupid reason they think that will give them some status as women in the eyes of men.

Working at Hooters is just a waitress job, only thing is these women have to wear tight black short sleeve t-shirts that says Hooters, and a pair of tight black short short black shorts.

The name Hooters is a sexist, chauvinistic, degrading term for women's racks.

Being smart, intelligent with good I.Q. level makes beautiful women perfect, acceptable, better people, not working at Hooters, posing for Playboy, and getting implants.

Answer 9

That underlying jealousy, is all about I want to be/need to be better than the next girl, attetion is important and self worth is vital. And being on one side of the grass, means you need to make the other side look just a little less green.

Answer 10

Some of them will say they don't need any man's respect or admiration. I think it's more a matter of personal opinion, so unless they are directly attacking one specific person, it's better just pass them over.