Written by: Malwi Luczynska, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Competition among women is a commonly observed phenomenon. It can take various forms, from open rivalry to achieve a specific goal to more subtle forms such as criticism, gossip, or sabotage. Competition among women is a complex phenomenon. On the one hand, it is seen as motivating women to achieve success, on the other – leading to conflicts and animosity. To mitigate competition among women and its effects, it is important to understand its causes and mechanisms.
Why do women compete with each other?
Is the struggle a domain of femininity and feminine energy? What challenges do contemporary businesswomen face? And what is the impact of social norms and patterns?
"Perhaps you will have to fight more than one battle to achieve victory." – Margaret Thatcher
General causes of competition among women
The reasons for this behavior are various and depend on many factors. One of the reasons women compete may be the desire to gain recognition and respect from other people. Modern culture promotes an attitude in which women feel they have to prove their worth and competence, which can lead to taking on all kinds of challenges and trying to outdo other women. Another reason women compete may be competition for resources, such as jobs, money, power, or attention. In a society where there is a widespread belief that women are still treated unequally, competition is treated as a way to get what they “deserve”.
So, looking superficially, we could assume that the general causes of competition between women include:
Desire for success
Desire to be noticed and appreciated
Pressure to meet societal expectations
Fear of failure
Specific causes of competition among women
I will allow myself, however, to delve deeper into the "why" behind these behaviors.
Gender equality
The corporate space, once dominated by men, is currently undergoing a phase of "gender equality." Gender equality refers to a situation where women and men have equal rights and opportunities in society. This means that women have the same rights in terms of education, employment, wages, health, political and social participation, and protection from violence. While this concept is trendy, also seen in how widely promoted "Diversity & Inclusions" slogans in policies and corporate cultures, it inadvertently opens the door for women to competition and rivalry, driven by the pursuit to be “better”... yes – better, because in the majority of the cases, this rivalry refers to “striving to match men” in a belief system that lacks equal opportunities from the start.
Gender equality is a human right and crucial for societal development. When women and men have equal opportunities, society is more stable, productive, and innovative. Even though gender equality is guaranteed in the legislation of majority of the countries worldwide, the statistics reveal a significant gender gap:
While in the EU more women have higher education degrees than men (44% compared to 34%)*
Women in the EU earned, on average, 12.7% less per hour than men in 2021. Still, there are huge differences between the EU countries.**
Women entrepreneurship in Europe is highly underrepresented (only 32% of entrepreneurs in Europe are women).***
Reasons for competition among women
Why do successful businesswomen compete with each other?
Well, through promoting gender equality and equal opportunities, we inadvertently foster competition among women. The aspiration to achieve equality reinforces the existing notion of inequality.
By promoting the slogans of "gender equality" and programs for equal opportunities for women and men in business, a space is automatically opened for women to compete, strive, and be equal to men, based on the belief and pattern of lack of equal opportunities at the start.
This competition arises because women benchmark themselves against men in high positions, adopting masculine qualities at the expense of their feminine strengths. This pursuit of equality, to some extent, results in women embodying a "better man" stance, undermining their unique feminine qualities.
Feminine energy
The feminine energy, both in business and beyond, involves creating a nurturing space, managing from intuition and heart, fostering support, collaboration, and inspiration, unleashing potential, and focusing on more than the logical calculation of gains and losses. It encompasses empathy, self-assurance, acceptance, and, above all, creativity and innovation.1
The nature of masculine energy, in turn, is analysis, action, organizing, acquiring, and striving. It is a mind-based energy, logical, success-oriented, proactive, decisive, and competitive.
The imbalance occurs when businesswomen adopt an (aspirational for her) role of "better man", reinforcing masculine energy while diminishing their feminine potential, leading to societal disharmony.
What can we do?
Women must realize they don't need to become "better men" to succeed. Organizational cultures and leadership need to start viewing women's roles from this new perspective.
Education in schools and the media is important, but mainly and above all in corporate boardrooms. Women need support and empowerment to feel confident in their competencies and skills, strengthen their potential, and ultimately achieve their goals. Coaching programs, mentorship, support groups, etc., can contribute to this. Changing culture and society to be more supportive of women is vital.
Here are some specific actions to be taken on an individual and collective level to reduce competition among women:
Recognize that feminine energy doesn't compete; masculine energy is competitive.
Start with yourself – focus on awakening feminine energy and/or quietening masculine energy within oneself. To enter the space of female energy potentials, silence your logical, task-oriented, and masculine mind.
Practice meditation, mindfulness, yoga, or non-goal-oriented physical activities to connect with the body.
Consider engaging in creative activities like dance, painting, singing, writing, fostering a space for creativity.
Be present, in the here and now and open to entering the heart space – the space of “feeling”
Invite other women into your space, creating a space of openness, support, and collaboration.
Be a support system for other women, helping them with challenges and successes.
Talk about how women can support each other.
Support organizations promoting gender equality and those that are working for cultural and social change to be more supportive of women
Summary
While huge steps have been taken for the betterment of women’s rights, the phenomenon described above is a symptom that has silently become a global problem. While it has started to gain attention, in the context of equal opportunities, a ‘level playing field’ has inadvertently reinforced the problem, encouraging women in business to adopt male energy.
Check out the community mobile app empowering women in business – the SI AMAR app
SI AMAR was developed as a platform to counteract this. Our vision is to support, empower, and connect women in business into one global community, built on the values of unity, collaboration, celebration, and empowerment, all in female energy.
SI AMAR app can be downloaded for free: click here.
Follow me on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, and visit my website for more info!
Malwi Luczynska, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Dedicated to empowering women both personally and professionally. As an ICF-accredited coach and certified yoga teacher (RYT200) in India, she brings a unique blend of skills and experiences to the table. With over 15 years of international expertise in management, business development, and sales within the retail and IT industries, she has cultivated a diverse background in Brazil, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Central and Eastern Europe, including Poland.
Currently – Founder of SI AMAR – community mobile app empowering women in business. She helps women in business reclaim balance in life and unleash their female power, so that they can start creating life up to their full potential. being fully and truly their authentic selves. She takes up the challenge of challenging the corporate space, emphasizing the importance of female energy in business. Her motto is: love empowers!
References:
Study published in 2019 by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation
European Commission report 2020 2021
