“Do We Really Want to Empower Each Other, or Just Appear Better?”
Let’s get real for a second.
We say things like “I’m all about women supporting women” or “Let’s uplift each other.”
It sounds beautiful. It looks great on social media.
But when the moment arrives — when another woman is truly thriving — how do we really feel?
Are we genuinely rooting for her?
Or are we low-key hoping we still have the upper hand?
Because there’s a difference between empowering others… and simply looking empowered.
The Image of Empowerment vs. the Reality
In today’s world, supporting women has become a trendy aesthetic.
You’ll find it in captions, reels, merch, panel talks.
But empowerment isn’t just about what you say — it’s about how you act when someone else’s light is blindingly bright.
Do you cheer loudly when a friend launches her dream project?
Or do you quietly compare timelines?
Do you feel joy… or do you feel the need to prove your worth, too?
That tension isn’t something to be ashamed of.
It’s something to understand — and gently unlearn.
The Hidden Urge to “One-Up” in the Name of Support
Sometimes, we share advice not to uplift — but to subtly remind someone of how much we know.
We compliment, but also mention how we did something similar — maybe even better.
We post supportive messages, but behind the scenes, there’s a lingering feeling of competition.
This isn’t always conscious. It’s a survival response many of us have absorbed in cultures that pit women against each other — where being “the best” feels like the only way to be seen.
True Empowerment Is Rooted in Humility
It’s not flashy.
It’s not performative.
It doesn’t need validation or praise.
True empowerment is being okay with not being the center of the room all the time.
It’s having the confidence to step back so another sister can step forward — without feeling like you’ve lost something.
And it’s in those quiet moments — the genuine compliments, the silent support, the unseen encouragement — that real sisterhood is built.
Ask Yourself: What Does Empowering Others Mean To Me?
Does it mean:
- I hold space for women even when they’re ahead of me?
- I check my ego when I feel left behind?
- I cheer for her without needing to remind her that I’m doing well too?
Empowerment is an energy. It’s a commitment.
And it’s something we either practice behind closed doors — or don’t at all.
If One Rises, We All Rise
Let’s remind ourselves that we don’t lose anything by supporting another woman.
You don’t fall behind when someone else wins.
You break the cycle of silence, shame, and scarcity.
So next time you say, “I empower women,” ask yourself:
Is it coming from love… or from the need to look good?
Because the world doesn’t need more empowerment slogans.
It needs more women who actually walk the talk.