Navigating Workplace Dynamics: How Beauty Standards and Gender Rivalries Impact Women's Empowerment in HR

When Does a Woman Become Her Own Enemy? Is the Beauty of Women a Blessing or a Curse?

A woman or girl steps into life full of self-confidence, believing she will work hard to achieve her goals. However, she faces a complex reality filled with hypocrisy, duality, and unethical competition. She receives blow after blow—from men seeking their own goals through her, and from fathers, brothers, and husbands who prevent her from working under the pretext of her gender or attempt to seize the money she earns. Thus, the working woman remains in a constant struggle with society to realize her identity. But when this struggle intensifies to the point that a woman becomes an enemy to another woman, especially if she is beautiful, the problem becomes even greater. The more she resists, the more pressure she faces from all sides.

Inferiority and Exclusionary Upbringing

The artist Suha states that “customs, traditions, and religion play a role in making women enemies of each other. When a female is raised as a second-class citizen, this idea becomes ingrained in her mind, and her sense of inferiority is heightened and rooted. This feeling of inferiority makes you regard the oppressor with respect and superiority, even if they are an enemy or a tyrant, to satisfy your desire to emulate them.”

She adds that “being raised with exclusionary values leads you to contribute to undermining the weaker party, which is what women do to each other in this context.” However, she interjects, “I have a counterpoint: there are women who support and inspire each other. In my life and even in my personal experience, I have never seen a woman become strong or achieve without being surrounded by at least one supportive woman, whether it be a mother, sister, or friend.”

She explains the problem of the East with the beauty of women, saying: “Because beauty in our East is always condemned, a beautiful woman must constantly prove that she is beyond the mold of appearance, which she bears no fault for. Beauty, of course, has its power; even religions have depicted sacred figures as beautiful to garner love and solidarity. Imagine if a deity, prophet, or sacred figure were not beautiful... no one would look at them. In the case of women, there is competition, and jealousy plays a role. However, I refuse to limit it to beauty, as the standards of beauty differ and have become accessible, even distorted.”

She believes that “both beautiful women and handsome men are socially more accepted, especially in fields linked to showmanship, such as fashion, media, and visual arts, where beauty is one of the conditions for acceptance, and in dubious professions like prostitution. In other fields, appearance is not a criterion. Moreover, men in Eastern societies promote the idea of accepting and loving a submissive, broken woman, who is compliant to them. They also promote the idea of religious devotion and its appearance for women. Thus, some women subconsciously align with male thinking, as I mentioned earlier, because they suffer from inferiority, and consequently, they judge other women based on male standards.”

Psychologists explain that some women lack the ability, have not received adequate support, and do not possess certain qualities. Therefore, instead of working on themselves and developing their abilities, they attempt to undermine others through defamation or various forms of hostility, giving others the impression that a beautiful woman only succeeds if she pays an unethical price for her success.

The Mother is the Foundation

Feminist activist Haiman states that “several factors drive some women to become enemies of others, such as jealousy and lacking the tools and qualities for success that others possess. Therefore, when they undermine others, there is a sense of self-satisfaction.”

Ramzi believes that “the mother in the home is foundational. If a girl is given the confidence, capability, and distinction that she grants to a boy, we will not see complicated women in our society. The mother in Eastern families supports her son, making him an oppressor and tyrant over his sister and wife. Her upbringing teaches him that he is the best, bravest, and most authoritative, which leads to male bullying and oppression of women.”

The feminist activist adds that “a beautiful woman is a prisoner of her beauty; the more beautiful she is, the more light and focus are directed at her from all sides.”

Many philosophers and writers have expressed their views on women and their beauty. Socrates says: “When you educate a man, you educate an individual. When you educate a woman, you educate a family.”

The 18th-century English poet Alexander Pope states, “Beauty shocks the eye.”

Egyptian author Anis Mansour, often referred to as a foe of women, remarks on female beauty that “a beautiful woman is not always kind; rather, a kind woman is beautiful.”

Ayah, a 23-year-old sports teacher, says, “A woman becomes an enemy to another woman for several reasons, one of the most common being jealousy, followed by hatred and envy, among other reasons.”

Ayah shares her experience in job hunting, noting that “the first impression employers have of a woman is whether she is beautiful. If she is not beautiful, her chances of getting a job are lower because support from men is often nonexistent, as men always focus on women’s outward appearance.”

Ayah Mouloud believes that “women who face restrictions due to upbringing and social customs harbor resentment towards liberated women because they do not possess the freedom they desire.”

A psychologist explains that “many factors contribute to the discrimination against beautiful women, whose beauty may complicate their lives instead of being a virtue. Raising a girl to believe that everything is shameful makes any behavior she exhibits a shame in the eyes of others—laughing, dressing, walking, speaking, and even looking can be seen as shameful.”

She suggests “raising awareness and developing the ideas of women, especially housewives and those living in villages and suburbs, through workshops, lectures, and educational courses, so that women can support themselves and each other, as well as encourage collective work and solidarity among women.”

Here’s an expanded version of the text with an HR perspective, concerns, and suggested solutions:

A woman or girl steps into life full of self-confidence, believing she will work hard to achieve her goals. However, she faces a complex reality filled with hypocrisy, duality, and unethical competition. She receives blow after blow—from men seeking their own goals through her, and from fathers, brothers, and husbands who prevent her from working under the pretext of her gender or attempt to seize the money she earns. Thus, the working woman remains in a constant struggle with society to realize her identity. But when this struggle intensifies to the point that a woman becomes an enemy to another woman, especially if she is beautiful, the problem becomes even greater. The more she resists, the more pressure she faces from all sides.

HR Perspective and Concerns

From an HR standpoint, the issues highlighted in this discussion reflect systemic challenges that hinder women's advancement in the workplace. Key concerns include:

1. Gender Discrimination: Women often face biases that undermine their capabilities and limit their opportunities for growth.

2. Workplace Rivalries: The competition among women, fueled by societal pressures and beauty standards, can lead to toxic environments that stifle collaboration and support.

3. Lack of Support Systems: Insufficient mentorship and networking opportunities for women can exacerbate feelings of isolation and competition.

4. Cultural Norms: Traditional beliefs about gender roles can hinder women's professional development and contribute to workplace inequality.

To address these concerns and foster a more equitable workplace for women, the following strategies can be implemented:

1. Promote Inclusive Policies: Organizations should establish and enforce policies that promote gender equality, ensuring equal opportunities for career advancement and fair treatment in the workplace.

2. Mentorship Programs: Develop mentorship initiatives that connect women with experienced professionals who can provide guidance, support, and encouragement.

3. Workshops and Training: Conduct workshops focused on building self-esteem, leadership skills, and conflict resolution to empower women and encourage collaboration rather than competition.

4. Awareness Campaigns: Launch campaigns to challenge and change societal norms regarding beauty and success, promoting diverse representations of women in leadership roles.

5. Support Networks: Encourage the formation of support groups and networks for women within organizations to foster camaraderie and mutual assistance in overcoming challenges.

6. Flexible Work Arrangements: Implement flexible work policies that accommodate the unique challenges faced by women, such as caregiving responsibilities, to enhance their ability to thrive professionally.

7. Regular Assessments: Conduct regular assessments of workplace culture and employee satisfaction, focusing on women's experiences to identify areas for improvement.

By addressing these concerns through targeted HR strategies, organizations can create a more supportive environment for women, enabling them to thrive and collaborate rather than compete against each other. Empowering women not only benefits individual employees but also enhances overall organizational performance and fosters a culture of inclusivity and respect.