Spotlighting Remarkable Women and Girls

6 Ways to Tackle Gaslighting from a Fellow Femme

By Adaline Sosu

Gaslighting—a term that has gained traction in recent years—is often associated with romantic relationships and male perpetrators. But let’s not overlook the fact that women can gaslight each other too. Whether it’s subtle undermining or outright manipulation, female-on-female gaslighting can be just as damaging. So, how do we reclaim our truth and tackle this insidious behavior? Here are six clever strategies to keep your sanity intact.

1.       Trust Your Instincts

First and foremost, listen to your gut. Women are often socialized to second-guess their feelings, but intuition is a powerful tool. If you sense something is off in a conversation or relationship, don’t dismiss it. Recognizing that your feelings are valid is the first step in standing your ground. Remember, your instincts are like a finely- tuned radar; they can guide you through the fog of confusion.

2.        Document Everything

Gaslighting often involves someone twisting the narrative to make you doubt your memories. A great way to counteract this is by keeping a journal. Document conversations, situations, and your feelings immediately after they happen. This not only provides a reference point when your reality is questioned but also serves as a therapeutic outlet. Plus, you’ll have a handy list of receipts if you need to confront the gaslighter later!

3.        Set Boundaries Like a Boss

Gaslighting—a term that has gained traction in recent years—is often associated with romantic relationships and male perpetrators. But let’s not overlook the fact that women can gaslight each other too. Whether it’s subtle undermining or outright manipulation, female-on-female gaslighting can be just as damaging. So, how do we reclaim our truth and tackle this insidious behavior? Here are six clever strategies to keep your sanity intact.

4.         Seek Support

Sometimes, it takes an outside perspective to see through the haze of manipulation. Talk to close friends or family members about your experiences. They can provide validation and insights that you might be too close to the situation to see. Remember, a strong support system is like having a personal cheerleading squad— always there to lift you up and remind you of your strength.

  • Practice Assertiveness

When gaslighting occurs, it’s easy to fall into the trap of being defensive or passive-aggressive. Instead, practice assertive communication. Use “I” statements to express how you feel without blaming the other person. For instance, say, “I feel uncomfortable when you dismiss my opinions,” rather than, “You always make me feel bad!” This approach helps to assert your feelings while minimizing confrontation.

6.        Know When to Walk Away

Finally, recognize that not all relationships are worth saving. If a friend continuously undermines your reality and disregards your feelings, it may be time to reevaluate the friendship. Surround yourself with people who lift you up, not those who drag you down. Remember, your mental and emotional well-being should always come first.

In conclusion, gaslighting among women is not only a reality but a challenge we can face head-on. By trusting our instincts, documenting our experiences, setting boundaries, seeking support, practicing assertiveness, and knowing when to walk away, we can navigate these murky waters with grace. Let’s empower each other and create a culture where women build each other up, not tear each other down. After all, the only drama we should be dealing with is the one on our favorite TV shows!

Share:

Trending

Raising Women Magazine Issue 046 – June 2026

There is something deeply revealing about the way a society treats its children. Not just in policy or parenting, but in the stories it tells them, the spaces it creates for them, and the kind of world it quietly prepares them to inherit. In this Children’s Day edition, Raising Women Magazine turns its attention to childhood itself, not as a sentimental phase of life, but as the foundation upon which identity, confidence, memory, and humanity are built.

Our cover star, Ms. Rachel, represents a refreshing reminder that gentleness still matters in an age of noise. Through patience, intentionality, and emotional safety, she has transformed songs and screen time into a global classroom for millions of children and families.

Across this issue, we explore the emotional architecture of childhood, from the girls who learn too early to shrink themselves, to the children quietly carrying adult burdens before they fully understand their own. We also interrogate modern parenting, digital culture, family, safety, and the futures young people are already shaping.

Because childhood is never just preparation for life.

In many ways, it is life itself.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 045 – June 2026

There is a difference between living and merely functioning.
Somewhere between the notifications, deadlines, responsibilities, ambitions, and endless demands of modern life, many of us have become exceptionally good at keeping going. We show up. We deliver. We carry. We cope. Yet beneath the appearance of productivity, an important question remains: are we truly well?
In this issue of Raising Women Magazine, we explore wellness not as a trend, but as a deeper conversation about humanity, health, purpose, and presence.
Our cover feature introduces Dr. Heidi Beilis, a pioneering physician helping to shape the future of healthcare through artificial intelligence. Her work reminds us that innovation is at its best when it serves people, particularly women whose lives may be transformed by earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.
Elsewhere, we explore grief, ambition, beauty, leadership, healthspan, rest, and the invisible burdens many women carry. We ask difficult questions about what it means to thrive, not simply survive.
As I wrote in this issue’s Find Her Light column, sometimes the rest we need is not sleep. Sometimes it is space. Sometimes it is perspective. Sometimes it is permission.
May these pages offer all three.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 044 – May 2026

There is something deeply revealing about the way a society treats its children. Not just in policy or parenting, but in the stories it tells them, the spaces it creates for them, and the kind of world it quietly prepares them to inherit. In this Children’s Day edition, Raising Women Magazine turns its attention to childhood itself, not as a sentimental phase of life, but as the foundation upon which identity, confidence, memory, and humanity are built.

Our cover star, Ms. Rachel, represents a refreshing reminder that gentleness still matters in an age of noise. Through patience, intentionality, and emotional safety, she has transformed songs and screen time into a global classroom for millions of children and families.

Across this issue, we explore the emotional architecture of childhood, from the girls who learn too early to shrink themselves, to the children quietly carrying adult burdens before they fully understand their own. We also interrogate modern parenting, digital culture, family, safety, and the futures young people are already shaping.

Because childhood is never just preparation for life.

In many ways, it is life itself.

Your guide to IVF and egg freezing in Korea

Empowering your family planning journey with curated fertility treatments at lower costs. Get our guide for Korea’s leading clinics, pricing and service breakdown.

Recommended News

Raising Women Magazine Issue 046 – June 2026

There is something deeply revealing about the way a society treats its children. Not just in policy or parenting, but in the stories it tells them, the spaces it creates for them, and the kind of world it quietly prepares them to inherit. In this Children’s Day edition, Raising Women Magazine turns its attention to childhood itself, not as a sentimental phase of life, but as the foundation upon which identity, confidence, memory, and humanity are built.

Our cover star, Ms. Rachel, represents a refreshing reminder that gentleness still matters in an age of noise. Through patience, intentionality, and emotional safety, she has transformed songs and screen time into a global classroom for millions of children and families.

Across this issue, we explore the emotional architecture of childhood, from the girls who learn too early to shrink themselves, to the children quietly carrying adult burdens before they fully understand their own. We also interrogate modern parenting, digital culture, family, safety, and the futures young people are already shaping.

Because childhood is never just preparation for life.

In many ways, it is life itself.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 045 – June 2026

There is a difference between living and merely functioning.
Somewhere between the notifications, deadlines, responsibilities, ambitions, and endless demands of modern life, many of us have become exceptionally good at keeping going. We show up. We deliver. We carry. We cope. Yet beneath the appearance of productivity, an important question remains: are we truly well?
In this issue of Raising Women Magazine, we explore wellness not as a trend, but as a deeper conversation about humanity, health, purpose, and presence.
Our cover feature introduces Dr. Heidi Beilis, a pioneering physician helping to shape the future of healthcare through artificial intelligence. Her work reminds us that innovation is at its best when it serves people, particularly women whose lives may be transformed by earlier diagnoses and better outcomes.
Elsewhere, we explore grief, ambition, beauty, leadership, healthspan, rest, and the invisible burdens many women carry. We ask difficult questions about what it means to thrive, not simply survive.
As I wrote in this issue’s Find Her Light column, sometimes the rest we need is not sleep. Sometimes it is space. Sometimes it is perspective. Sometimes it is permission.
May these pages offer all three.

Raising Women Magazine Issue 044 – May 2026

There is something deeply revealing about the way a society treats its children. Not just in policy or parenting, but in the stories it tells them, the spaces it creates for them, and the kind of world it quietly prepares them to inherit. In this Children’s Day edition, Raising Women Magazine turns its attention to childhood itself, not as a sentimental phase of life, but as the foundation upon which identity, confidence, memory, and humanity are built.

Our cover star, Ms. Rachel, represents a refreshing reminder that gentleness still matters in an age of noise. Through patience, intentionality, and emotional safety, she has transformed songs and screen time into a global classroom for millions of children and families.

Across this issue, we explore the emotional architecture of childhood, from the girls who learn too early to shrink themselves, to the children quietly carrying adult burdens before they fully understand their own. We also interrogate modern parenting, digital culture, family, safety, and the futures young people are already shaping.

Because childhood is never just preparation for life.

In many ways, it is life itself.

The Family Tree Divide

What Women Are Given, and What They Build By Sipho Khumalo Two women walk into the same room. One is

First, Believe

By The Lulu They said the sky’s the limit But what if you’re still underground, still digging through the dirt