Why Are Women Catty?

**CourtneyBanks** · 02-09-2010 12:24 PM

I work in a Co-working space in Columbus, OH and it is a very male dominated space. Our office is made up of several small businesses with mainly owners working in the office. One thing that I've noticed from working in this office is how much the males help out one another. They go to lunch, salsa dancing, and dinners together when they're schedules allow which is pretty standard in terms of interoffice interactions but the thing that is different is how they connect one another with new business ventures. They keep each others' businesses in mind and are always trying to advance their friends.

I've been involved in organizations and internships since the 3rd grade and I've always found that women don't act in the same way. We don't help each other get ahead and I think until we change that aspect of how we do business we'll never get a good footing in the business world.

Have any of you found this trend of catty behavior or seen some great women helping out women in business?

**tenuk** · 02-09-2010 01:51 PM

I myself am a male, and many of my female friends and relatives have spoken of this too as you've described it and I've noticed this type of behavior between women as well. Perhaps due to workplace inequality, favoritism, or some other unfair reason women have subconsciously or consciously developed an "every woman for herself" type of mentality. This is the case in the dating scene as well I would say. I can only speculate but it is an interesting (and important) issue to think about and address for women

**ElijahRYoung** · 02-10-2010 12:23 PM

I've seen the same behavior.

I think the aggressive mentality that soem women believe they need to succees, tends to naturally alienate them from others, including women in the office. It almost seems as if they view their target as having "one seat left" and that drives them to favor competition over collaboration.

**Diko17** · 03-12-2010 01:09 AM

My sister works in a very competitive lab and her boss (a woman) was always extremely nice to all the men but seemed to hate all the other women. I think it can be really hard for some women to come up and become recognized in such male-dominated fields and so maybe some of them don't want to make anything easier for other woman that are also trying to gain prominence in that field.

**lcalaway** · 05-07-2010 09:26 AM

I am a woman and have been working closely with another woman for the past 5 years. What helps is that she and I complement each others' skills and even if we have our moments, we recognize our respective strengths.

**bakermargar** · 06-10-2010 06:08 AM

I had some so-called "friends" but come to find out that they have been gossiping about me. They act like friends to my face but behind my back, when they are alone or with other women, they have cut me down.

I'm not a child - I'm 47.

I work with all men now and I love it. They talk abt baseball and other stuff but never abt each other. It's so different from working with women.

Any thoughts as to why women do this and how I should best handle it?

**HelpMel** · 07-06-2010 07:16 AM

It's society's fault. From day one, girls are taught by peers, and unfortunately, some parents, that other women are smarter, better looking, taller, thinner, etc., etc. This catty behavior is a small window to their own insecurities. I don't think there's a way around it unless we hold a universal intervention with every catty woman. You can't undo a lifetime of negative teachings if all you do is work with them. How to deal with it? Just don't put up with it and act professional.

**lizaadams** · 07-29-2010 10:38 AM

I completely agree with the author. Very rarely do I enjoy working with women as they are so catty. I think it's even worse if you're an attractive women, and others feel they need to be "better" than you in some other way. It's sad really.

**mrhannette** · 08-02-2010 05:21 AM

yes....i have seen women help other women to grow in business...but at the same time...."catty" women also i have seen...
i guess its the nature and no one can help...

**avelina** · 08-09-2010 06:08 AM

To be jealous is the natural fact , every one has some of it but women have it more than men , they can overcome it but most of them don't try it. And women are mostly sticky toward their families; emotionally. So , doing something for the family first is always their top priority.