108. The Smart Girl's Guide to Making & Maintaining Female Friendships

“Girl Gangs” have long been a staple of the female experience – a way for women to lean on each other as we navigate life, love, and everything in between. Unfortunately, creating and maintaining these strong friendships can be difficult post-grad, as the demands of adulthood can crowd our vision. If you’re in need of some tips and advice on cultivating bonds with women that’ll last a lifetime, this week’s episode of Too Smart for This is for you!

Show Notes:

3:46 Why are female friendships important?
3:53 There’s a lived experience that only other women will understand
4:50 Importance of nurturing female friendships in a world that prioritizes romantic love
5:00 Why are female friends hard to make and maintain?
5:08 Patriarchy encourages competition between women
6:40 Recognizing and unlearning a patriarchal mindset
7:09 Personal experience with female friends
8:10 Struggling to find belonging/security in homogenous environments
9:31 Navigating self-segregated environments in Academia
11:34 Being your most authentic self is the foundation for any relationship
11:57 Avoid people who project their insecurities onto you
12:12 Strong, lasting relationships require vulnerability
13:01 Finding comfort in self-awareness
13:48 Authenticity and confidence create the foundation for great female friendships
14:12 Viewing interpersonal relationships as a reflection of ourselves
17:28 Taking each friend at face value – always assuming the best intentions
18:16 Analyze your feelings/emotions in the presence of certain friends
19:11 Set expectations with new friends
20:40 Categorizing friends
22:26 How to make friends after college
22:40 #1 Connect with people through your network
23:12 #2 Bumble BFF
23:19 #3 Join clubs/activities that fit your interest
25:04 Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear!

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