"In a world that prizes social connection, the experience of being deliberately excluded can inflict a deep emotional wound. This sting was publicly shared by actress Ashley Tisdale, who recounted in The Cut her experience of being left out of a mothers' group. I faced a similar, shocking moment when I was intentionally excluded from a yoga group's birthday invitation, despite having been a regular participant in all prior group events."
"When I pressed Janet for the reason behind the snub, the explanation was telling: "When they asked about my child's health condition, you wouldn't gossip. They want you to gossip, and you didn't." My refusal to engage in their "game" of gossiping was, she suggested, the root cause of my exclusion. To counteract this, Janet informed the group she would bring me as her "plus one," citing her husband's absence."
In a world that prizes social connection, deliberate exclusion inflicts deep emotional wounds. Actress Ashley Tisdale recounted being left out of a mothers' group. A regular yoga participant was intentionally omitted from a birthday invitation despite prior involvement. A longtime friend declined to attend in solidarity after noticing the omission. The group said exclusion followed refusal to gossip about a child's health. The refusal to join the gossip was framed as the reason for shunning. A psychotherapist called the behavior cruel and identified it as bullying, advising attendance with the supportive friend. Bullying is shown as a staged, controlling tactic; authenticity is more empowering than forced conformity.
Read at Psychology Today
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