108. The Smart Girl's Guide to Making & Maintaining Female Friendships

“Girl Gangs” have long been a staple of the female experience – a way for women to lean on each other as we navigate life, love, and everything in between. Unfortunately, creating and maintaining these strong friendships can be difficult post-grad, as the demands of adulthood can crowd our vision. If you’re in need of some tips and advice on cultivating bonds with women that’ll last a lifetime, this week’s episode of Too Smart for This is for you!Show Notes:3:46 Why are female friendships important?3:53 There’s a lived experience that only other women will understand4:50 Importance of nurturing female friendships in a world that prioritizes romantic love5:00 Why are female friends hard to make and maintain?5:08 Patriarchy encourages competition between women6:40 Recognizing and unlearning a patriarchal mindset7:09 Personal experience with female friends8:10 Struggling to find belonging/security in homogenous environments9:31 Navigating self-segregated environments in Academia11:34 Being your most authentic self is the foundation for any relationship11:57 Avoid people who project their insecurities onto you12:12 Strong, lasting relationships require vulnerability13:01 Finding comfort in self-awareness13:48 Authenticity and confidence create the foundation for great female friendships14:12 Viewing interpersonal relationships as a reflection of ourselves17:28 Taking each friend at face value – always assuming the best intentions18:16 Analyze your feelings/emotions in the presence of certain friends19:11 Set expectations with new friends20:40 Categorizing friends22:26 How to make friends after college22:40 #1 Connect with people through your network23:12 #2 Bumble BFF23:19 #3 Join clubs/activities that fit your interest25:04 Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear!Too Collective WebsiteToo Collective Affirmation TextsFollow Too Collective on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toocollective/?hl=enFollow Alexis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexisbarber/?hl=enFollow Alexis on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@alexisbarber_?lang=enSubscribe to Alexis on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7-YnRrflV9g6nLMWUkwDtAThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5806440/advertisementAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit toocollective.substack.com/subscribe