Friends acting like mean girl teens

[MiddleAgeFriendsActingLikeYear8]

I am in a group of friends who share a hobby. Over the past few years other friends of these women have joined. I’d say I was a bit of an outlier in the group, and about 4 of them are very good friends with a long history.

One of these women is just awful. She’s bitchy, catty, has a massive sense of entitlement and very self absorbed. I don’t know why she has developed such good friendships TBH. I don’t like her.

For a while now I’ve thought she doesn’t like me. Mainly by the way she greets me, or talks to me compared to the others. I’ve also learned that she’s been bitching about me and my family to the rest of the group.

I don’t want to drop my hobby, as I’m really good at it, but I feel a bit bullied, and pushed out. They’d choose her over me, as their DC hang out together, and I don’t have the same connection. If I was to call her out, I’d probably have to leave the group.

Not sure how to handle this going forward. Any advice?

AIBU to think that as a middle aged woman, I shouldn’t be dealing with teen mean girl mentality?

Well, you don't like her, she doesn't like you. She greets you dismissively and is unpleasant about you behind your back (how did you find this out?), you've started an internet thread about her. You think she has the power, because you're an outlier, and she's closer to more of the others.

I suppose it comes down to whether you value your participation in this hobby enough to outweigh the irritations of this woman's presence?

I have experienced this in the past, my advice is to rise above it and continue with the hobby you enjoy, hopefully there are other nicer people involved.
Response to anything said in your hearing, along the lines of ‘That’s a very unkind thing to say’. Try not to be confrontational. These mean groups tend to turn on each other eventually.

Could you join a different group?

I could join another group, but I’ve made a couple of nice friends there. I don’t see why I should leave. I’m not 12.