What It Means to Be a Girl’s Girl

Being a girl’s girl. It’s one of those phrases that gets tossed around a lot these days, isn’t it? We hear it in the context of cheering on our friends, complimenting each other, celebrating achievements, and lifting each other up. While all of this is beautiful and important, I think there’s a deeper, more nuanced meaning to being a true girl’s girl.

The way society often portrays being a girl’s girl can feel like it’s all about supporting your friends no matter what. It’s about being the cheerleader for your girl group, offering compliments, encouraging one another, and acting as a supportive presence in every moment of celebration. And yes, while all of this is absolutely part of the equation, I’ve come to realize that there’s another layer to being a girl’s girl—one that goes beyond surface-level support.

True sisterhood, true friendship, means not only lifting up but also holding each other accountable. It means encouraging growth and development, even when it’s tough. Sometimes, love isn’t just about celebrating the good; it’s about stepping in to help a friend who is heading in a destructive direction or making choices that are harmful to themselves or others.

A girl’s girl doesn’t condone behavior that is reckless or dangerous. She doesn’t stand by while her friend makes decisions that will ultimately hurt her or others, especially another girl (because how can you be a girl's girl if you encourage behavior that harms another woman?). If you love your friends, you don’t just watch them perish in their mistakes; you speak up, you offer guidance, and you try to steer them toward better choices. This doesn’t make you a bully or a “mean girl”—it makes you a true friend. A friend who cares enough to intervene in a way that’s loving, honest, and real.

Being a girl’s girl means finding a balance between being an encourager and offering constructive correction. You can celebrate your friends' victories, and still, when necessary, be the one to offer a well-meaning piece of advice. It’s about seeing the whole person—acknowledging their strengths, but also gently guiding them when their decisions start to veer off course. That’s the beauty of true friendship: it’s rooted in honesty, not just in agreement. And this doesn't have be condemning.

Proverbs 27:17 tells us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” To me, this speaks to the fact that we, as women, should be sharpening each other. A girl’s girl helps her friends become better versions of themselves, not by just cheering them on when it’s easy, but by encouraging them to grow—even when growth is uncomfortable.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.” This verse captures the essence of what it means to be a girl’s girl. We are in this together. When a friend stumbles, when she falls, it’s our duty to help her up. Sometimes, this means offering a kind word, and other times, it might mean offering a tough conversation. But it’s always about lifting her up—never leaving her behind.

And in 1 Thessalonians 5:11, we’re reminded to “encourage one another and build each other up.” The call is clear: we are to build each other up in a way that brings out the best in each other. This isn’t just about praising everything someone does; it’s about building them up with love and truth, helping them become stronger, wiser, and better. Jesus was not a yes man and even in "sitting with sinners" he was not condoning behavior that was contrary to the Word, and neither should we. 

To be a girl’s girl isn’t just about always agreeing or offering empty compliments. It’s about encouraging growth, offering honest feedback, and loving one another enough to say, “I see something in you that needs to change, and I want to help you get there.” It’s about standing by your friends through their triumphs and struggles alike, never wavering in your support, but never afraid to lovingly speak the truth when necessary.

So, the next time you think about what it truly means to be a girl’s girl, remember that it’s about more than just praise and affection—it’s about true, rooted love. It’s about encouragement, accountability, and helping each other become the best versions of ourselves.