Snap out of it!

Most of us have seen “Mean Girls” and heard about the book “Odd Girl Out.” However, why are young women so ruthless toward one another? If not all females have this character flaw (I’d like to include myself in this category), what causes this unnecessary aggression toward other women?

As studies have shown, women tend to be less direct and assertive than men when problems arise. Females store emotions inside. They are more likely than males to bottle up emotions and then explode because of these pent-up feelings.

How do women deal with stressful situations? They become petty.

Walking to and from classes or different locations on campus is a prime time to overhear cell phone conversations or discussions among females about other young women.

Although men can be just as guilty, women are extremely bold when attacking a peer’s physical appearance, rather than her actions or character. In today’s society, this is an incredibly low blow, especially because of low self-esteem and increasing image issues among college-aged students.

Cutting and sarcastic comments are often popular between aggressor and victim. These backhanded compliments are the verbal form of bearing claws and hair pulling. Insults are an all too common conversation starter in female-peer relationships.

My other favorite way females seek revenge is gossip. Rumored hook-ups, drunken stupors or eating disorders run rampant and can destroy and add to the already fragile psyche of young women.

Teenage and twenty-something females tend to be extremely dramatic and manipulative. At this age, women have men at their beck and call because of looks, money and privilege.

Alpha-female roles take shape in even the smallest of social circles, making conformity a must. Unfortunately, watch out if you ever do something to make a female mad; she may attack or exploit even your tiniest character flaw.

I did not write this article to bash fellow females. Instead, I wanted to share some personal observations and evoke discussion about why women are sometimes so unpleasant to one another. Women can and have the capacity to be extremely nurturing, kind and caring individuals.

Although this age has been characterized by selfishness and immaturity, females need to snap out of it! Since academic and social pressures exist at an all time high, why do females act maliciously towards one another?

Remember the saying our parents told us as children: “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”