Empowered Women Build Ladders and Open Doors
Why women tear each other down…
It’s a question worth asking: why do women sometimes seem so competitive or even ruthless with one another? Why do we find ourselves in moments of judgment, gossip, or criticism about another woman? The truth is, this behavior often stems from societal conditioning, limited opportunities, and a scarcity mindset that has long pitted women against one another. But we don’t have to accept this as the norm.
Empowered women don’t tear others down—they build ladders and open doors. This simple yet profound truth challenges us to reflect on our own behavior and rise above the patterns we’ve been taught.
The Roots of Competition
For generations, society has perpetuated the belief that success is a zero-sum game, especially for women. There’s often only one spot at the table, one promotion, or one opportunity. This creates an illusion of scarcity, making it easy to view other women as competition rather than allies. Add to that the cultural conditioning that teaches girls to compare themselves—looks, intelligence, accomplishments—and it’s no wonder so many women feel pressure to outshine rather than uplift one another.
But this competition comes at a cost. When we tear each other down, everyone loses. Hostility, exclusion, and judgment reinforce systems designed to divide us and keep us from our full power. The antidote to this cycle? Radical support and solidarity.
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Pay Attention to Tearing Others Down
If we truly want to foster a culture where women lift each other up, we have to start by looking inward. Pay attention to the moments when you find yourself judging another woman. Maybe you’re criticizing her choices, her business practices, or even her appearance. Maybe you’re gossiping about her, doubting her abilities, or feeling the urge to tear her down in some way.
When this happens, stop and ask yourself:
• Why am I doing this?
• Why do I feel the need to insult, critique, or judge her?
More often than not, you’ll find that the root cause isn’t about her at all—it’s about you. Tearing someone else down is often a reflection of insecurity or comparison. When we feel confident and secure, we don’t feel the need to diminish others. This doesn’t mean shaming yourself for these moments—it means getting curious. What fear or lack are you feeling? How can you address that within yourself instead of projecting it onto someone else?
What We Really Need: Support and Solidarity
Imagine a world where women didn’t see each other as competitors but as collaborators. Where instead of judging, gossiping, or tearing each other down, we built ladders and opened doors. Support doesn’t have to be grandiose; it can be as simple as celebrating another woman’s success, sharing knowledge, or creating opportunities for others to grow.
Here’s what building ladders and opening doors can look like:
1. Mentorship: Be the guide you wish you had. Share your experiences and wisdom to help others navigate their own path.
2. Advocacy: Use your platform or influence to lift others up. Recommend a colleague, celebrate someone’s win, or connect someone to an opportunity.
3. Collaboration Over Competition: Partner with other women instead of seeing them as rivals. Together, we’re unstoppable.
Why It Matters
When we lift each other up, we disrupt the systems that thrive on division. Supporting other women creates a ripple effect of empowerment that strengthens communities, workplaces, and industries. And it all starts with one simple shift: choosing to celebrate another woman’s success rather than tearing it down.
The Power of Self-Awareness
The next time you catch yourself judging another woman, pause. Ask yourself the hard questions:
• Why am I doing this?
• What does this moment of judgment say about me?
• How can I shift this energy into something positive?
This isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. The more aware we become of our own behavior, the more we can break free from patterns of negativity and create a culture of mutual support.
Be That Woman
Empowered women don’t tear others down—they recognize that lifting someone else up doesn’t take anything away from them. They build ladders for others to climb, open doors for others to walk through, and cheer just as loudly for someone else’s success as they would for their own.
The next time you feel the sting of comparison or competition, reframe it. Think about how you can support, celebrate, or learn from the woman in front of you. Because when women come together, we’re not just breaking glass ceilings—we’re creating new structures entirely.
Let’s rewrite the story. Choose to rise above the need to tear down. Be the woman who builds ladders and opens doors—for yourself, for others, and for a future where we all thrive together.
Dee
What’s Next:
Paid members, keep an eye on your inbox! The next episode in the Reclaiming Your Power audio series drops soon, and we’re diving into the topic of Breaking Free from People-Pleasing. We’ll explore why we fall into the people-pleasing trap, how it diminishes your power, and actionable steps to set boundaries without guilt.
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