Sister dynamics are tricky to understand for people with sisters and even trickier for those without. As someone who knows the definition of sisterhood through lived experiences, I feel more than qualified to speak on how difficult navigating the dynamics of these relationships can be.  

One of the most divisive sister dynamics publicly scrutinized in the media is the Kardashians’. I’ve been following them since their debut TV show “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.” I’ve always been intrigued by their inter-family relationships and more so in how the media critiques the dynamics between them. 

Media outlets often compare the differences in their looks, careers and accomplishments using certain clips from the show that seemingly pit the sisters against one another. For example, in one of the latest episodes, Kim Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian Barker were discussing an ongoing argument that had been brewing since last season. 

While the two sisters have often reiterated how they’ve moved on from the situation and still share a deep, familial love for one another, the media has drawn another conclusion based on the episode. An article titled “Kourtney Kardashian Says She’s Happiest When She’s Not With Her Family“, published by Elle, discusses the drama between the two sisters but fails to mention how they say that they’ve moved on from the situation and that the show has only rehashed it. 

Stepping away from the Kardashians, it’s interesting how the media in general critiques and compares sisters. For example, Serena and Venus Willams are the perfect example of this trope. Both of these women are very accomplished in their own right, but throughout their careers, they’ve always been talked about through the lens of the other sister.

Numerous news outlets such as the New York Times, Spot Covery and Sports Brief  have made articles analyzing them, comparing their stats, wins and losses to determine the better tennis player.

Why does the media feel the need to compare them to each other at all? The comparison doesn’t just stop with these sisters, though. 

Another pair of sisters that the media often compares is Beyoncé and Solange. Despite the outpouring of love that they often show one another, Beyoncé and Solange are compared for their singing and performing abilities. Both sisters have spoken out against these comparisons and asked the media to stop making them numerous times, but the media won’t stop when it comes to comparing sisters. 

Why the media chooses to pit women against each other is a mystery, but why the media chooses to pit sisters specifically against each other is an even bigger mystery. Despite the negative perceptions that the media often puts forward, remember to love your sisters through it all. 

Lindsay Bickham is a 19-year old mass communication sophomore from New Orleans.