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Jealousy

A difficult issue…

Dealing with a mother who is jealous of her daughter can be challenging.

Note: We have moved the topic of “Narcissistic Mothers” to its own page. Narcissism

Featured Article

Women and Rivalry Part 1

Since the topic of jealousy is such a highly visited section of Motherrr.com, we thought we would include this very interesting excerpt from the book, Tripping the Prom Queen: The Truth About Women and Rivalry by Susan Shapiro Barash.  While its focus is primarily on how women (friends, co-workers, siblings, etc.) relate to one another, it also touches on the mother-daughter relationship and shows that jealousy between women (no matter who they are) isn’t as out of the ordinary as one might think.  Be sure to also check out other articles on this website that address jealousy between mothers and daughters more specifically.

Excerpt from “Tripping the Prom Queen:  The Truth About Women and Rivalry”
ABC News, Good Morning America

Susan Shapiro Barash Looks at How Women Relate to Each Other

Susan Shapiro Barash is a professor of gender studies at Marymount Manhattan College and became fascinated by women’s relationship with each other.  Can sisters, mothers and best friends be jealous and supportive at the same time?  In fact she found that rivalry and envy often pervades female relationships.  The women’s liberation movement created more options for women, but it also seems to have created more competition, Barash said.

Introduction

Facing the Dark Mirror
All my life, I’ve relied upon the kindness of women.

I had a terrific relationship with my mother, who supported my earliest efforts to explore the world and discover a sense of myself.  I had wonderful girlfriends, pals who were good for everything from a carefree shopping trip downtown to long, serious discussions aboutcontinue reading

More Articles

When a Mother's Pride Turns to Envy

When a Mother's Pride Turns to Envy
By Judith Woods, Daily Mail, UK A mum is supposed to want the very best for her daughter, but what happens if the daughter's youth, vitality and success make her feel jealous? Judith Woods looks into the devastating effects of maternal envy. When Andrea was growing up she was aware that her moread more

People Need To Stop Telling Me My Daughter Is Gorgeous — And Doesn’t Look Like Me

People Need To Stop Telling Me My Daughter Is Gorgeous — And Doesn’t Look Like Me
by Beth Seidler Rehman Mommyish.com My daughter’s looks were a hot topic of conversation from the moment of her birth.  Who did she look like?  The family debated this endlessly.  They never reached consensus.  My mother-in-law insisted that, as a newborn, my daughter looked just like my husband diread more

Jealous of Your Child

Jealous of Your Child
By Lisa Belkin, The New York Times, Motherlode - Adventures in Parenting Over on Slate yesterday, a reader wrote to the Dear Prudence column, looking for advice.  She asked, in part: I am the mother of a tall, shapely, stunning, 17-year-old daughter … I have worked to help her be strong, secure, aread more

Help, my mother is jealous of me!

Help, my mother is jealous of me!
One woman's mom resents her success. Dr. Gail Saltz advises. By Dr. Gail Saltz TODAY Q. I believe my mother is jealous of me. My life is better than hers (relationships, material goods, job, friends, etc.) and I really think she resents me for it. She gets nasty when I reach a goal, make a signifread more

When the Green Eyed Monster is Mum

When the Green Eyed Monster is Mum
By Charlotte Phillips, The Times The author looks at the corrosive effect of a mother’s jealousy of her own daughter. Meg has two daughters, a loving, supportive husband and the sort of house that estate agents fantasize about. She has worked hard for her success, only recently taking a break fromread more

Women and Rivalry Part 1

Women and Rivalry Part 1
Since the topic of jealousy is such a highly visited section of Motherrr.com, we thought we would include this very interesting excerpt from the book, Tripping the Prom Queen: The Truth About Women and Rivalry by Susan Shapiro Barash.  While its focus is primarily on how women (friends, co-workers, read more

Women and Rivalry Part 2

Women and Rivalry Part 2
Excerpt From "Tripping the Prom Queen:  The Truth About Women and Rivalry" Page 2 Eventually, Elinor confronted Cynthia in an angry conversation that left both of them hurt and upset.  By mutual agreement, Elinor stayed away from the wedding, and the twenty-year friendship ended.  When I thoread more