I have always had an intense fear and discomfort with confrontation. I am a classic people pleaser, which I strongly believe stems greatly from my struggles in friendships and past bullying. But I think this is something that a large majority of women experience because of the societal expectation for women to get along, be … [Read more…]
There was a point in time where I almost didn’t feel I had a choice in who I was friends with. If someone was willing to be my friend, I was going to take it, no matter what it entailed. The wider your community and the greater your sense of self-worth become, this mindset begins … [Read more…]
As I’ve navigated and observed my relationships with other women, there are countless roles I’ve witnessed women take on in social groups. There’s one in particular that I’ve noticed at every stage of my life that I think speaks to a larger issue with female socialization than we even realize. We all know that girl … [Read more…]
Self-talk is a critical component in building self-esteem and bringing us closer to the “best versions of ourselves.” I think we as women tend to fall into a trap of negative self-talk, because we’re constantly asked to compare ourselves to other women and ideals of femininity, and made to feel that we somehow don’t stack … [Read more…]
My latest post dealt with the necessity of acknowledging that girls bully and the significance of labeling these behaviors as such. But now I’m going to shift gears and contradict that notion; we need to find a new term for “girl bullying.” It’s a term I often use when giving the elevator pitch for my … [Read more…]
Since the beginning of my own experience with girl bullying in middle school, it has always struck me how few people have even heard of this as a specific issue. But what baffles me more is the amount of men and women I’ve encountered who seem to refuse to deem this as “bullying.” Too often … [Read more…]
Sending your daughter off to another year of school can be daunting knowing that her persecution may carry over, or even worsen, in the new grade. Here’s what to focus on in order to best empower and support her as she enters this next chapter: Encourage Her to Seize Opportunities. A new school year means … [Read more…]
Starting a new school year can bring up a mix of emotions – excitement for what’s to come, hope for a clean slate, but also fear of falling back into damaging friendships and patterns. Here are my tips to start it all off right, and the essential reminders to hold on to as the year … [Read more…]
One of my earliest posts dealt with the issue of gossiping and the role that talking about others has in friendships. But there is another function of this that I did not address, and one that I think can be rather illuminating. Do you ever find yourself repeatedly complaining to and confiding in a friend … [Read more…]
At the tail end of my friendship with my middle school clique, I first experienced the downsides to social media and the impact it can have on our wellbeing and relationships. I was in 9th grade and was away for the weekend with my parents, after my friend’s mother declined my mother’s request for me … [Read more…]