A 2023 study published in the journal Nature by Professor Tim Clutton-Brock of the University of Cambridge explored the hidden world of indirect, internal competition among women.

The research team recruited nearly 600 participants aged 25-45 who were married and parents. They were asked to estimate the reactions of other people of the same sex in more than 20 different scenarios involving resources beneficial to women, such as food, safety, status, and power.

The results showed that women lacking a particular resource had significantly more negative feelings towards women who possessed it than men did in similar situations. For example, a woman who considers herself less attractive might easily feel uncomfortable, even hostile, towards someone considered beautiful.

Notably, if men possessed the resource, women generally did not exhibit competitive feelings, or if they did, the feelings were negligible.

Further research revealed that women displayed strong negative attitudes toward other women in relation to resources such as a powerful position at work, attractive appearance, having good parents, being an influential member of the community, being energetic, having excellent health, living in a beautiful house, and having a good partner.

In other words, women tend to react more negatively than men to resource disparities (someone having something they desire but don't have) among those of the same sex, but not between sexes. This means women don't get upset when they feel inferior to men. Instead, they feel resentment and make comparisons when they feel inferior to other women.

Evolutionary psychology explains this by suggesting that this reality stems from women historically facing a higher risk of physical harm and therefore developing more covert forms of social conflict. They often engage in competition based on appearance, status, and partners. Men, on the other hand, tend to compete more directly, such as through physical contests, open rivalry, challenges, or displays of dominance.

Although both sexes are competitive, women may avoid open competition due to societal pressures and expectations that women "should be pleasant, agreeable, and not dominant." Therefore, they may compete more in areas of appearance, social standing, or emotional connections, where their status is subtly defined.

Thuy Linh (According to Psychology Today)