We have all heard the tired prehistoric line- “Women’s biggest enemies are other women”. This line is said with such certainty as though envy and rivalry are woven into our DNA.
Honestly that phrase should have been left behind with the dial-up internet. I mean, have you noticed the women lately? They are too busy running empires, surviving office politics, balancing emotional tax returns, and still finding time the window to cheer for each other in Instagram comments. This is not a lie, but a love language. In small powerful gestures, women are showing the world that their truest instinct is not to compete but to stand together.
Take that beautiful moment when Harmanpreet Kaur handed the trophy to Mithali Raj and Jhulan Goswami. Was it imperative for her to do so? Absolutely not. She could have basked in the glory of her own leadership. Instead, she hand-picked gratitude over ego. The trophy was not just metal and shine or victory, but about legacy. It was her own way of saying “you paved the path we now walk.”
That’s not vying. That is pure reverence.
Or take Pratika Rawal, who could have skipped the ceremony after her injury, but instead showed up- wheels and all. When Smriti Mandhana pushed her wheelchair to the victory event, it was not pity but giving us the guidebook of “How to carry someone without making them feel carried!”. It felt “Babe, if you cannot walk with us, we will roll with you.”
Then came the Miss Universe 2025 moment. A pure cinematic plot twist the world, the social media and the organisers of the very event- didn’t see coming. The Director called Miss Mexico a “dumbhead”, and instead of giggling nervously, EVERY CONTESTANT just…. walked out. Just like that!!
Imagine the group chat later that day: “We are not doing crowns today, Honey, we are doing justice. Period.” That is what we call
“Solidarity in sequins, high heels and acrylic nails”.
In my own small orbit, I have friends who play therapist, stand-up comedian and food delivery service- all in one. They sit with my anxieties, tolerate my overthinking and send memes at 2 a.m. We all have our own “Vijayalakshmi”, listening to our rants, wiping our tears, reminding us to move on, to dance through the chaos and rediscover the inner spark, every time our inner “Rani” is a total emotional mess.
These women don’t judge; they don’t fix, but simply sit beside us in our emotional traffic and occasionally honk, lovingly.
Yet, somehow, we keep hearing that humdrum line: “women pull other women down”. Really? Have you ever peeked inside a mom’s WhatsApp group? It is the most efficient ecosystem on earth- swapping homework, doctor contacts, and PTA updates faster than a newsroom on election results day. Competition? Nope.
That is coordination on steroids.
Sure, women have disagreements. We are human and not halos. But the narrative has shifted. The difference is that women are now realising that competing with each other doesn’t shrink the pie; it just burns the kitchen. The comparison era is fading, replaced by something stronger called “Collaboration”.
We have outgrown cattiness like we have outgrown awkward side fringes and butterfly clips (sorry 2007). What is replacing is warmth, wit and a collective eye roll at outdated stereotypes. Now, when one woman wins, the others do not sulk. Rather, they repost, comment and add three heart emojis.
So yes, we have shredded that old, dusty prejudice that showcased us as jealous, backstabbing, mascara-smudged vamps in each other’s stories and have unwrapped the inner cheerleaders, allies, and emotional Wi-Fi hotspots who connect, amplify and boast each other’s signals.
Maybe it is time to retire that line for good along with “pink is for girls” and “women cannot parallel park.” Because clearly, we can not only drive and also “drive the change”.
Bahnika Sen
