The Truth About Female-on-Female Bullying
There’s a lot of talk online about being a “girls’ girl,” women supporting women no matter what. But here’s the problem: the statistics don’t match the slogan.
According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, when women bully, 67% of the time they target other women. That means most female bullies are choosing women — not men — as their victims.
Nursing: “Nurses Eating Their Young”
The nursing field has become a classic example of female-on-female bullying. It happens so often there’s even a phrase for it: “nurses eating their young.”
- A BMC Nursing study found that 48% of registered nurses reported being bullied in just a six-month period, most often through gossip, exclusion, and undermining.
- A systematic review reported bullying rates among nurses ranging from 27% to 80%, with senior nurses often targeting junior ones (PMC).
👉 Related: Bullying in Healthcare
Why Women Bully Other Women
Researchers have identified several reasons why women turn on each other in workplaces and social groups:
- Competition for limited power: In male-dominated spaces, women sometimes target other women to protect their own status.
- Relational aggression: Female bullying often looks like gossip, exclusion, or sabotage — less visible than physical intimidation, but just as damaging.
- Internalized misogyny: Some women mirror patriarchal norms, tearing other women down instead of lifting them up.
- Herd mentality: When a group targets one woman, others may join in to avoid being the next target — echoing adolescent “mean girl” dynamics.
Why I Refuse to Be a “Girls’ Girl”
When women say they’re a “girls’ girl,” it’s supposed to mean loyalty, support, and empowerment. But the reality is that female-on-female bullying is widespread, especially in professions like nursing and law. Pretending that women automatically support other women just because of gender ignores the real harm that happens when women bully each other.
That’s why I say: I’m not a “girls’ girl.” Because real support isn’t about slogans. It’s about refusing to participate in gossip, exclusion, or sabotage, and choosing instead to create workplaces and friendships where women actually lift each other up.
Female-on-female bullying isn’t “just drama.”
It’s bullying, and it carries the same weight and trauma as any other form of abuse. Until we recognize it for what it is, women will continue to carry the silent burden of being targeted by other women.
Let’s make an echo that says: supporting women means ending the cycle of women bullying women.
