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Why ‘Support All Women’ feels fake: The hidden competition no one talks about
I used to think “support all women” was just a beautiful, empowering idea. I mean, who wouldn’t want to lift each other up, right? But the more I observed, the more I realized something wasn’t adding up. It started to feel… fake. Like a hashtag more than a lived reality.
We’ve all seen it. The glowing Instagram captions: “You go girl!” or “All bodies are beautiful.” But when the spotlight dims, there’s silence — or worse, subtle shade. That influencer who’s always promoting body positivity but only collaborates with thin, flawless models. The beauty guru who says “we’re all queens,” yet side-eyes a woman who doesn’t meet the aesthetic standard.
The truth is, there’s a lot of unspoken competition happening under the surface. And I don’t say that to blame or shame anyone — I’ve felt it too. That little pang when someone walks in looking too good. Or when another woman gets praised for something I secretly wish I had. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s real.
So why is this happening?
We were raised to compete.
Whether we like it or not, many of us grew up in a world that taught us there’s only room for one “it girl” at the top. Think about high school dynamics, magazines with “Who Wore It Better,” or…