To wonder why some women belittle other women

[Teenageromance]

I was in quite a high level meeting today with colleagues I know and was presenting. Another woman asked a question that felt like it was designed to catch me out. Why? I would never do that to anyone - male or female. Why do people do this?

Same reason some men belittle other men, or belittle women, or some women belittle men, etc etc etc. People are often unkind and unpleasant and view others as competitors.

The biggest snakes at my work are definitely men. One is queen of the insult disguised as praise. Another is so known for throwing people under the bus that we call him Mr 192 (well known local bus route).

I don't assume that women will be any nicer or less nice to me than men.

It interests me that women's negative behaviour is looked at in a gendered context whereas men's is not. "Why do women belittle other women?" Why ask that rather than 'why do people belittle other people'? Why is that the people involved are women so very important?