Shine Theory

Shine Theory was coined by friends Aminatou Sow and Ann Friedman and first discussed in 2013, including in a column for The Cut. In this column by Friedman, she describes Shine Theory as the idea that “I don’t shine if you don’t shine,” using the word shine here as a shorthand for performing very well. According to this theory, people, and women especially, benefit much more by striving to collaborate with talented peers rather than succumbing to envy or jealousy and competing against them.

Friedman cites Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland as someone who didn’t practice Shine Theory and was overwhelmed with bitterness over the solo success of former group-mate Beyoncé, and suggests Rowland has yet to realize that Beyoncé’s success could also benefit her.

According to Friedman, Shine Theory is specifically wise for women, who have disproportionately low representation in high-level corporate and leadership positions. Among other factors, Friedman attributes this to the idea that powerful women often believe there is “limited space” for women in high-ranking positions, and so competition, rather than cooperation, is necessary for success. Friedman argues that powerful women should cooperate and encourage their peers to be successful for the benefit of all. She also thinks Shine Theory is applicable to life in general, such as with relationships and body-image issues.

In the years after Friedman first wrote about Shine Theory, major news outlets, including the BBC and HuffPost, have covered Shine Theory and found evidence for Friedman’s theory. According to the BBC and Time, the female staffers working in the White House during the Barack Obama presidency (2008–16) practiced—and found great success with—Shine Theory.