We’ve all been in situations where female cattiness has dominated. It’s something that many of us have learned to simply live with, but Gwyneth Paltrow has had enough. In a recent interview with Harper’s Bazaar U.K., Gwyneth denounced women who tear each other down: “Women really need to examine why they’re so vitriolic to other women; why they want to twist words, why they want to read about someone else in a negative light and why that feels good to them.”
As a celebrity who has experienced a monumental amount of criticism, it’s no surprise that Gwyneth is burnt out on the jealousy and backstabbing that can dominate female culture. And while many news outlets may have focused on her comments about ex Chris Martin in the interview, we’re thrilled to point out these remarks from such a powerful public figure. After all, largely broadcasted voices like Gwyneth’s—who also runs her own lifestyle blog, Goop—make these issues more widely known, though they’ve always been valuable topics to discuss.
Her requests for women to take a step back and reevaluate their need to bash other women are much needed, but she’s certainly not without a strong group of friends who have taught her the importance of healthy and supportive relationships: “I also know a huge tribe of women who are loving and supportive of other women, in ways that are completely transformative.”
The stunning actress and mother of two also made her thoughts known about a woman’s right to define herself, regardless of others’ perceptions: “I think we are a generation of women who are different in a lot of respects, and some of us want to be ambitious, and for it not to be a dirty word. We want to be feminine and soft, we want to be maternal, we want to be sexual, we want to be explorers—and we can be a combination of all of these archetypes. You can be powerful, but you can also be vulnerable.” We don’t know about you, collegiettes, but we totally stand by Gwyneth’s philosophy that a woman can be much more than one thing and rise above the hateful conversations that often fuel female interaction!
Do you agree with Gwyneth’s assertions about women?