It is an epidemic. It is in our schools, our homes, and our workplaces. It seeps through cracks of weakness and it pours out of the mouth of gossipers. No one is safe from it, and only we can stop it.

Girl on girl hate is not a new concept to our society. In fact, it is a concept created by our society. Bitch. Fat. Whore. Ugly. Reading these words you should feel uncomfortable, yet when we say them they roll off our tongues with ease. It leaves behind a taste of satisfaction because if she is a skank then you couldn’t possibly be one too.

These terms, that are used too often in our vocabulary, are not just shaming someone else; you, as a female, are shaming yourself. You are part of a group larger than just your friends, your city, or even your state. You are part of a population of women who are dedicated, capable, and intelligent. You are the daughters of women who fought to be considered a person, and equal. We owe it them to stand with each other in solidarity.

If you make it acceptable to look at another girl and call her a slut then you are making it acceptable for the male gender to do the same. Yet, when a male does it we are allowed to be offended. Are we not just being hypocrites? We are making it admissible for the male generation to dehumanize us. But it isn’t entirely their fault, it’s ours too.

We set the standards for how we are to be treated. And we let society slack off. Instead of empowering one another we tear each other down in order to build ourselves up. But we are all part of something larger than ourselves. We are women. We are on the same team, we are not against each other. We are allowed to be weak, we are allowed to make mistakes, and we are allowed make our own choices, free of judgment. We cannot be put into boxes defined by demeaning, shameful, one-worded statements. We are more than that. We need to make a switch in our vocabulary. If we don’t who will? We set the bar.

So it’s time to raise it. You are the one who holds the bar, so why wouldn’t you hold it to the acceptable standard? So, I’m challenging you: Eliminate your daily talk of toxic gossip that will not benefit you or your fellow sisters. It’s time to put a stop to this epidemic.