Burning Bridges While Standing on Them: The Insanity of Women Sabotaging Women

There’s a special kind of madness in burning the you’re standing on—yet some women do exactly that when they sabotage other women. Instead of lifting each other up, they’d rather strike a match, douse the foundation in gasoline, and set it ablaze, all because they don’t want another woman to get credit for solving the problem.

It’s not competition—it’s self-destruction with a side of pettiness.

The “If I Can’t Win, You Can’t Either” Syndrome

We’ve all seen it. A woman finds the solution, puts in the work, and just as she’s about to step into the spotlight, another woman—who could have been her ally—decides that if she can’t take the credit, no one will. Instead of supporting progress, she undermines it. Instead of celebrating a win for the team, she’d rather make sure the whole project crashes and burns.

It’s like cutting the power in the middle of a relay race because you’re mad you didn’t get the baton first. The irony? The finish line doesn’t move. The world still sees the problem solved. The only difference is that now, you’re the one standing in the dark looking bitter.

Why This Kind of Sabotage Is Beyond Absurd

Imagine this: You’re in a sinking boat, and instead of bailing out water, one of the women on board is busy drilling new holes because she didn’t get to steer. Make it make sense.

Destroying another woman’s progress doesn’t make you look stronger, smarter, or more capable—it makes you look insecure and short-sighted. It tells the world, I’d rather nobody win than watch her succeed. And in a world where women are already fighting for equal seats at the table, why on earth would we start flipping the chairs over ourselves?

The Root of the Problem: Insecurity Masquerading as Power

At its core, this behavior stems from insecurity. Some women have been so conditioned to believe there’s only room for one “queen” at a time that they turn on each other instead of recognizing that success isn’t a single-seat throne—it’s a banquet table, and there’s plenty of room if we pull up chairs instead of breaking them.

The most powerful women are the ones who build networks, not wreck them. They recognize that competition doesn’t mean destruction—it means elevation.

How to Stop the Madness

If you’ve ever been tempted to sabotage another woman’s success, take a second and ask yourself:

• Will tearing her down make me better?

• Will it actually put me in a position to succeed, or just make me look spiteful?

• What if, instead of competing, I collaborated and created something even greater?

The truth is, women don’t win by cutting each other off at the knees—we win by standing together, strengthening each other, and proving that success isn’t a zero-sum game.

Final Thoughts: Light the Way, Not the Bridge

The next time you feel the urge to snatch credit or stop another woman from rising, remember this: real power doesn’t come from destruction—it comes from creation, collaboration, and courage.

Burning bridges only leaves you stranded. Instead, be the woman who builds them.