First off, men also compete against other men. Men also compete against women. Basically, humans compete against each other.
Now about her theory:
>That’s the third theory of female competitiveness that I’d like to propose: We aren’t competing with other women, ultimately, but with ourselves — with how we think of ourselves. For many of us, we look at other women and see, instead, a version of ourselves that is better, prettier, smarter, something more. We don’t see the other woman at all.
The article already starts off weak because it doesn't define and separate productive competitiveness from unhealthy competitiveness.
But assuming she's addressing the unhealthy "competitiveness".
Girls don't so much compete against other girls as compare themselves with other girls. When we perceive themselves as inferior in some way, some express our displeasure in unhealthy behaviors (gossiping, overcompensating, etc.) and negative emotions.
Most of it stems from poor self-esteem, poor self-image and a scarcity mindset (if there exists someone smarter, prettier than me, it threatens my chances of getting what I want). I don't imagine this to be specific to one gender though, I'm positive guys go through the same issues.
Now about her theory:
>That’s the third theory of female competitiveness that I’d like to propose: We aren’t competing with other women, ultimately, but with ourselves — with how we think of ourselves. For many of us, we look at other women and see, instead, a version of ourselves that is better, prettier, smarter, something more. We don’t see the other woman at all.
The article already starts off weak because it doesn't define and separate productive competitiveness from unhealthy competitiveness.
But assuming she's addressing the unhealthy "competitiveness".
Girls don't so much compete against other girls as compare themselves with other girls. When we perceive themselves as inferior in some way, some express our displeasure in unhealthy behaviors (gossiping, overcompensating, etc.) and negative emotions.
Most of it stems from poor self-esteem, poor self-image and a scarcity mindset (if there exists someone smarter, prettier than me, it threatens my chances of getting what I want). I don't imagine this to be specific to one gender though, I'm positive guys go through the same issues.