Lately I’ve seen “female friendship” touted as an antidote to patriarchy. And I have to say, this can veer into benevolent sexism.

Being female doesn’t make anyone nice or sweet or a good friend. Women can be just as unkind & misogynistic as men.

We must not erase the experiences of women abused & mistreated by women. This happens often, and the damage is devastating.

There is no sense of sisterhood that stems simply from having a vagina & being around others who do too. There is no “female” brand of friendship.

Touting a supposedly universal sisterhood that everyone with a vagina belongs to is not sisterly at all.

Gender essentialism doesn’t liberate us from patriarchy; it enforces it.