Vox
June 11, 2026
The Evolution and Weaponization of 'Girl's Girl'
TL;DR
The term 'girl's girl' began as a compliment for women who support each other, but has evolved into a loyalty test and weapon used primarily against women in reality TV culture.
Key Takeaways
- 1The phrase originally meant supporting other women and valuing female friendships, but has become a contested label and loyalty test
- 2Reality TV shows like Vanderpump Rules, Love Island, and Summer House turned 'girl's girl' into a cultural obsession with constant fan debates
- 3The label is applied almost exclusively to women, while men escape similar scrutiny when relationship or friendship conflicts occur
- 4Using 'not a girl's girl' as an accusation has become a weapon to put down other women rather than genuinely celebrate female solidarity
- 5Critics argue the term has lost its original positive meaning and now functions as a tool for judgment rather than community-building
Notable Quotes
“If there's one thing you don't want to be told, it's that you're not a girl's girl.”
“Any real woman that loves women never has to say, "I'm a girl's girl."”
“If being a girl's girl means supporting other women, why are women so often the only ones punished when things go wrong?”
“Maybe being a girl's girl is still a good principle, but when the label becomes a way to put others down, it might be missing the point entirely.”
Chapters
1. Origins of 'Girl's Girl'
The term started as a positive compliment describing someone who supports other women, values female friendships, and refuses to pit women against each other.
2. Reality TV and Cultural Obsession
Shows like Vanderpump Rules, Love Island, and Summer House transformed 'girl's girl' into a major cultural debate, with fans constantly judging who deserves the label.
3. Examples of the Label in Action
Love Island season 6's Powerpuff Girls alliance exemplified positive girl's girl behavior by prioritizing friendship over male competition, while Amanda Batula faced intense backlash for dating a friend's ex.
4. Gender Double Standard
Women are primarily punished for violating girl code while men involved in the same conflicts escape scrutiny, revealing a fundamental imbalance in how the label is applied.
5. The Label as a Weapon
Critics argue that 'not a girl's girl' has become a tool to put others down rather than celebrate female solidarity, potentially undermining the original positive principle.
Key People & Entities
- Sirena, Janelle, and Lia
- Love Island season 6 contestants who formed the Powerpuff Girls alliance
- Amanda Batula
- Summer House star accused of violating girl code by dating her friend Ciara Miller's ex
- Ciara Miller
- Summer House star whose ex Amanda Batula began dating, sparking backlash
Glossary
- Girl's girl
- Originally, someone who supports other women, values female friendships, and refuses to pit women against each other; now often used as a loyalty test or judgment
- Girl code
- An unwritten set of rules about loyalty and support among women, particularly regarding relationships and friendships
- Powerpuff Girls alliance
- A strategic friendship group on Love Island season 6 where contestants prioritized each other over competing for men