“#Behnecode, aaj se ye hamara code rhega”. This famous Gen Z dialogue is from Ananya Pandey’s series Call Me Bae released in 2024 which encapsulates the modern take on female camaraderie.
It is no more 'Aurat hi aurat ki Dushman hoti hai' but more like 'your problem is my problem as well’.
“Female friendships in personal life means calling each other in the middle of the night with a crisis, meeting each other for lunch on weekends, texting to make sure everything is okay,” says Sumedha, an assistant professor in a college in Lucknow, while sharing her thoughts on female friendship.
“Growing up, I had always heard that women were each other's worst enemies. Going into the world with that mindset, it was very difficult for me to fully trust women. But everything changed once I went to the hostel,” she said.
Popular culture and social media have reshaped the perception of friendships. There was a time when pitting women against women was the favourite plot of TV serials. However movies like Veere di Wedding and Queen are challenging the stereotypes and celebrating sisterhood instead.
From sharing jhumka and bindi to work and life problems, female friendships have proved their value. They not only compliment a new hairstyle and new outfit but also call out questionable relationship choices.
Delhi’s only female compartment of the metro is a site to see where friendship blossoms in the hustle bustle of the corporate world . From “I love you” to “I am proud of you” and “You are stronger than this”, women appreciate each other and push each other for the better.
Geetika, a daily commuter on the Delhi Metro, said, “What strikes me is that women are gifted with a sixth sense which helps them comfort their girlfriends in the best possible way and also give each other space to analyse things. Nothing can beat that.”
Shwetank, a student in Indian Institute of Mass Communication in New Delhi , also hailed female friendship over bonds between males, “Male friendships often focus on the tougher aspects of life, while female friendships tend to make us more sensitive. Generally, men are less expressive with other men, but when it comes to friendships with the opposite gender, they feel more relaxed in sharing their true feelings.”
The saying “women are each other’s worst enemies” stems from patriarchy or not, might be debatable but one thing is certain: the narrative is changing. The universal human need is to be understood, and women excel at providing that for one another. In a world where loneliness and mental health struggles are rising, female friendships offer a safe space for support and solidarity.
