Some women will intentionally treat you worse if you’re a fellow woman. It’s unfortunate, but it may be because they want to be seen as “above” you or “better than” you.

Treat your mean coworkers like you’d treat any other coworker. Don’t be overly nice, but don’t be rude or dismissive, either. Being compassionate might just help you understand your coworker more. Try to think about why they might be behaving this way before you react. [3] X Expert Source Meredith Walters, MBACertified Career Coach Expert Interview. 22 November 2019.

Plus, if you don’t react in an angry way, you’ll look like a more professional, competent employee.

Try to keep your interactions brief, and talk to your mean coworkers as little as possible. [6] X Expert Source Meredith Walters, MBACertified Career Coach Expert Interview. 22 November 2019.

Plus, having allies in the workplace means someone will have your back.

If you really need to vent, talk to someone who has no connections with your workplace, like your partner or a close friend. [10] X Expert Source Julia Yacoob, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 15 July 2021.

“I don’t like being spoken to that way. Please treat me professionally. ” “Is there a reason why you don’t want me in that meeting?” “Why are you singling me out?”

“When you ignore me during meetings, I feel belittled. Is there a reason why you don’t like hearing my ideas?” “I feel disrespected when you talk about me behind my back. If you have a problem with me, I’d rather you talked to me about it. ”

If you do decide to escalate the situation and talk to a supervisor about it, ask your coworkers to come in as witnesses. They can back you up and certify that what you’re saying is true.

“I wanted to talk to you today about Ashley’s communications with me. I’ve noticed that she often uses a belittling tone that borders on disrespectful. I’ve asked her to change how she speaks to me, but I’ve seen no effort on her part. ”

If you’ve tried talking to your boss or HR and nothing is changing, looking for a new job might be your best move.