Women and jealousy

jaggerhawks

From my few years on earth and even shorter time on this forum, it's apparent that women can be jealous beings. So my question is, do women have some sort of hormone that spikes jealousy levels? Not saying men don't get jealous too, but as a man I've never looked at someone much more attractive or more built than me and actually envied him. I may aspire to be better, but I can't grasp the concept beyond that.


So, do you ladies have this hormone, and what is it called?

CubanSammich

do you mean envy swole bro?

MyaPapaya75

that would mean your a good person OP...some are not

CubanSammich

if thats the case, women just hate on each other, they have to be the most prettiest, most best dressed in the room. They just have to. and if another girl is prettier than her, most likey she wants her to die in an aweful subway accident.

chimanlifts1

Both men and women get jealous. But yes, generally the cattiness comes out in women around each other, while bromances can bloom more easily among men. I think it's because they're from venus and we're from mars.

vienna_h

We don't like our competition.

We've been wired since we were young that we should aspire to be the prettiest girl in the room, always. Because that girl gets everything good. Beauty means everything. Its all we've been told our entire lives. So naturally, we get jealous of our competition, her presence knocks your worth down a few pegs.

wild_wild_life

Evolution. We want the best men so we can have the best babies. Duh.

babyluthi

From my few years on earth and even shorter time on this thread, it's apparent that women can be jealous beings. So my question is, do women have some sort of hormone that spikes jealousy levels? Not saying men don't get jealous too, but as a man I've never looked at someone much more attractive or more built than me and actually envied him. I may aspire to be better, but I can't grasp the concept beyond that.


So, do you ladies have this hormone, and what is it called?

Most men I have met are like you... until another man eyes their woman!

I have met lots of non-jealous women types too:)

Jealousy usually comes from some sort of threat.

ggxx100

Ehh it's a bit of a generalization but yes, women can be very jealous beings. Then again, some males have to establish themselves as the alpha male in the room.


People in general, men and women, are competitive by nature.

Edit: but what I think you're referring to is cattiness, which may or may not come out of jealousy. If only women could just punch each other and get it out of their system without holding grudges :laugh:

babyluthi

if thats the case, women just hate on each other, they have to be the most prettiest, most best dressed in the room. They just have to. and if another girl is prettier than her, most likey she wants her to die in an aweful subway accident.

Don't be deceived. Women don't dress up for men, they dress up for other women;)

michellekicks

I actually think a woman's ability to be a jealous bish is directly related to how poorly she's been treated over the years of her life. If she's young and has been treated well, she's barely ever jealous; if she's old and has been treated well she's even less jealous. If, however, she's young and has been treated poorly, she's learning to envy the lives of others and if she's old and has been treated poorly for years, she's bitter and angry and hurt... and very jealous.

So next time you wonder why someone is jealous, consider they could have been terribly hurt at one time.

Heather_Rider

It's not what women HAVE.. its what they DONT have..

Its called maturity. some get it sooner than others. Some never get it.

Those that have this "cattiness / jealousy" thing between other women plain & simple just havent gotten it yet!

ladynocturne

It's more psychology than hormones.

Perhaps taking a psyc 101 class would be helpful for you.

It comes down to competition for a mate.

Not every woman is like that, but almost everyone has at least thoughts of not feeling quite up to par to someone else based on looks or money. It's natural.

What's awesome is that we have the ability to not act on these thoughts and feelings.

babyluthi

It's not what women HAVE.. its what they DONT have..

Its called maturity. some get it sooner than others. Some never get it.

Those that have this "cattiness / jealousy" thing between other women plain & simple just havent gotten it yet!

This.

Heather_Rider

We don't like our competition.

We've been wired since we were young that we should aspire to be the prettiest girl in the room, always. Because that girl gets everything good. Beauty means everything. Its all we've been told our entire lives. So naturally, we get jealous of our competition, her presence knocks your worth down a few pegs.

If my WORTH was ever judged by another womans "being"... that doesn't say a whole lot about my worth as a person, let alone as a woman. Just my opinion.

rhinesb

It's not what women HAVE.. its what they DONT have..

Its called maturity. some get it sooner than others. Some never get it.

Those that have this "cattiness / jealousy" thing between other women plain & simple just havent gotten it yet!

^^^this

hararayne

I think there are a lot of things at play. My feminist side says that women are taught to feel less than. So we become jealous more easily. Our society has a way of degrading women, so we will often feel less than. They say jealousy is often bred from low self esteem. We get low self esteem from how the media portrays us, belittles us, and demands too much for us. It would make anyone a little snarky.

From a biological standpoint, I would guess that women become territorial during their cycles. From an evolutionary standpoint, it is the female humans perogative to land a man that will stay with her through pregnancy and the rearing of children. So we hate on other women and degrade them, hate them, etc because we want to keep our man! Men on the other hand can spread their seed however they like with no need to stay and help. This is strictly from an evolutionary and biological standpoint. I think lots of guys are upstanding and feel compelled to stay and help raise children.

If you're asking about specific hormones, estrogen and progesterone would probably be the culprits.

Sources: meh, I was in college a very long time studying biology, evolution and gender and sex studies.

Mslmesq

To the op, No. This is a very inaccurate statement. The explanation, long version, is too long. The short one is people...male/female doesn't matter.... People that are connected with their 'true self' do not have these feelings almost at all or ever. People that do have these feelings have things they need to work through. Usually they have unresolved childhood issues and were raised in at least a somewhat dysfunctional manner.

stephv38

I actually think a woman's ability to be a jealous bish is directly related to how poorly she's been treated over the years of her life. If she's young and has been treated well, she's barely ever jealous; if she's old and has been treated well she's even less jealous. If, however, she's young and has been treated poorly, she's learning to envy the lives of others and if she's old and has been treated poorly for years, she's bitter and angry and hurt... and very jealous.

So next time you wonder why someone is jealous, consider they could have been terribly hurt at one time.

Good job, friend!

xoxomarshmallow

I only get jealous because I hate myself.

barbaradetz

I don't think its a hormone. I believe its called low self esteem. Some people have to put others down to feel better about themselves.

rhinesb

It's more psychology than hormones.

Perhaps taking a psyc 101 class would be helpful for you.

It comes down to competition for a mate.

Not every woman is like that, but almost everyone has at least thoughts of not feeling quite up to par to someone else based on looks or money. It's natural.

What's awesome is that we have the ability to not act on these thoughts and feelings.

^^^^this too

TripZeros

It's not a hormone, it's insecurity.
Not every woman is like that... Example:
At my husband's work he had a girl who was hot enough to be a swim suit model come through and ask him for help. After he was done helping her out, I told him I was proud of him for being so smooth with a total hottie . I was proud, she was really beautiful.
Maybe we're just weird... I've never been jealous of that kinda stuff.

hararayne

It's more psychology than hormones.

Perhaps taking a psyc 101 class would be helpful for you.

It comes down to competition for a mate.

Not every woman is like that, but almost everyone has at least thoughts of not feeling quite up to par to someone else based on looks or money. It's natural.

What's awesome is that we have the ability to not act on these thoughts and feelings.

Most psychological phenomenon are rooted biologically in some way or another. Your hormones do play a role in the behaviors you engage in. Not all hormones are sex hormones either. Hormones are host of different messages that your endocrine system secretes to tell your body what to do. In a general sense.

ggxx100

Lol in b4 everyone claims no jealousy :laugh:

liesevanlingen

Personally I couldn't care less if someone is prettier than me--so what? My husband thinks I am beautiful and that's the opinion that matters. And beauty is more than skin deep. Cleopatra was supposed to be quite plain, but she had so much intelligence, such a vivid personality and charisma, that as a teenager she captured the heart of Julius Caesar--arguably the most powerful man on the planet.

chimanlifts1

Lol in b4 everyone claims no jealousy :laugh:

You're too late silly, it's already started

Front_Runner

I blame popular culture. It has wired us to feel inferior & insecure in general. The fashion & beauty industry has targeted women for decades. They're finally (sad to say) going after men, now. Whatever they can do to get us to feel crummy... so that we have to buy "this, that, and the other" product to improve our looks. A gal invests time, and lots of money to try to be "That Girl" on the magazine.... the one the guys want... and then, when she sees someone "hotter," it sparks that self-deprecating response. And in defense - ya lash out.

I bet, within the next 20 years, men will start to feel that envy. They're now pushing "man-scaping," for example. I know lots of dudes shaving and even waxing their bodies... just to try to look "better." It's ridiculous in my opinion. They might not be jealous of another guy... but they're getting pushed more and more to feel inadequate, too. It sells.

Sorry - going off on another plane! ha!

wild_wild_life

From a biological standpoint, I would guess that women become territorial during their cycles. From an evolutionary standpoint, it is the female humans perogative to land a man that will stay with her through pregnancy and the rearing of children. So we hate on other women and degrade them, hate them, etc because we want to keep our man! Men on the other hand can spread their seed however they like with no need to stay and help. This is strictly from an evolutionary and biological standpoint. I think lots of guys are upstanding and feel compelled to stay and help raise children.

If you're asking about specific hormones, estrogen and progesterone would probably be the culprits.

Yeah, this is pretty much it. Not a very exciting answer, but there you have it.

maybeazure

I don't think all women are jealous. What I do think is that women are much more secure about noticing that other women are attractive, and admitting it. I don't believe I have ever heard a straight man come out and say something like "wow that guy is good looking. I love his hair." I fully believe they think it though...they just don't say it.

MercenaryNoetic26

I've never been a hater but observed catty women and never understood it either. Friends to your face and talking trash about you behind your back. If I don't like other females it's because I find them annoying and I won't hide the sentiment. :sick: