Growing up on the east coast meant many things: Summer thunderstorms, fall leaves that just won’t quit, and the requisite 5th grade trip to Williamsburg, VA.
You’d clutch your brown paper lunch as you walked past wig makers and silversmiths to the town square where the tour guide in a three cornered, felted hat would stop quite suddenly. There before him were two tall wooden contraptions with holes for arms and a neck.
The stocks.
Gossip. Spreading rumors. Name calling. Criticizing. Cruel teasing. Intentionally excluding someone. Breaking confidences. Eye-rolling. Manipulation.
These are all forms of relational aggression that the majority of women have been a recipient of and/or have engaged in at some point. As you read this, has an experience of relational aggression from your own life come to mind? Amazing how those instances stick with you, isn’t it? I still feel a pang of embarrassment and disappointment with myself over harshly criticizing a girl in the 6th grade! And, I can clearly remember every instance throughout my life when I found out that another girl or woman had been gossiping about me or purposely excluding me from their social circle.
Whether in the news or in the workplace, we’re always hearing about advocates who are proudly supporting causes that they feel are important. Men and women across the world stand up for human rights, impoverished people groups, children being trafficked, and many other humanitarian efforts. But,
Girlfriends are good for many things. They are wonderful when you need a gut wrenching laugh, an unrelenting cry, a word of advice, and someone to hold your secrets. Your friends see you at your best…your worst… your most beautiful and your most ugly (both