How Childhood Girl Bullying Destroys Your Adult Friendships [Ep. 25]
Description
The Hidden Truth About Girl Friendships and Relational Bullying
In this unscripted, heart-led episode, I dive deeper into why women struggle with friendships – and it's not always about mother wounds. I explore the often-overlooked reality of relational bullying between girls, which starts as early as preschool and can devastate a woman's ability to trust female friendships well into adulthood. From sharing my own 4-year-old daughter's early experiences with exclusion to examining how girls bully covertly through friendship manipulation, I reveal why traditional approaches to resolving girl conflicts often fail. Unlike boys who bully overtly, girls use relationships as weapons – spreading rumors, excluding peers, and creating power dynamics within friend groups. If you've ever wondered why you feel anxious in female friendships or struggle to trust other women despite wanting connection, this episode offers crucial insights into how childhood relational trauma shapes our adult relationships.
With this episode you'll be able to:
- Understand how relational bullying differs from overt bullying and why it's harder to detect
- Recognize that friendship struggles aren't always rooted in mother wounds
- Identify signs of relational aggression starting as early as preschool
- Learn why girls often stay in toxic friend groups rather than risk being alone
- Understand why traditional conflict resolution approaches fail with relational bullying
- Support your daughter if she's experiencing friendship difficulties at school
- Remind yourself that you're no longer in danger as an adult seeking female friendships
Don't forget to check out the book "Odd Girl Out" by Rachel Simmons – essential reading for any woman or mother raising girls to understand the hidden world of female aggression.
Connect with Brittney:
- Instagram: @theBrittneyScott
- Website: www.brittneymscott.com
- Consultation to work with Brittney
Mentioned resources:
- "Odd Girl Out" by Rachel Simmons
- "Best Friends, Worst Enemies" by Michael Thompson
- Strategies for supporting daughters experiencing relational bullying
- Options for changing school environments or adding supportive activities
Help me reach more mothers and daughters by following the show & leaving a rating or review on Apple & Spotify!
Keyword tags:
relational bullying, girl friendships, female aggression, covert bullying, friendship struggles, mother daughter relationships, childhood trauma, friendship anxiety, supporting daughters, Brittney Scott, girl development, trust issues, female relationships, friendship patterns