Feminist Amy Everett says:

My brain shouts various answers in the direction of this question. Having grown up at an all-girls school (the birthplace of bitchiness), I can vouch it’s a toxic habit, but a tough one to shake.

I’d be lying if I said I’d never bitched about anyone - and so would you. A snide comment here, a wry observation there. Talking behind people’s backs is human nature (the word ‘gossip’ dates back to the 12th Century, for crying out loud).

Sometimes it makes you feel good, sometimes it’s chased with a pang of guilt, as a colleague giggles by the toaster or laughter rings around your group of friends. What’s the common denominator in both cases?

They’re probably looking around them before joining in, or whispering their reply - because they know the same thing you do. Bitching isn’t nice and we shouldn’t do it.

To be heard joining in, or worse, by the subject of the bitching, is the ultimate social faux pas (remember when you accidentally sent that mean text TO the person you were bitching about? The SHAME). And why? Because we know it’s unconstructive, punitive or just plain nasty - but we do it anyway, because *god* does it feel good.

That delicious, fleeting moment of revenge (‘she bitched about me first’), old habit (‘it’s fine, we’ve been friends for years’), relief (‘I love her to bits, but this has to be said…’), or just plain fun (‘OMG, that’s so true’) is the driver for bitchiness.

'Is it acceptable to bitch about other women?'