Enneagram 8 Female: A Portrait of Femme Fatale

Enneagram 8 females are the kind of women everyone instantly notices when they enter the room, as they exude unbelievable charisma and sex appeal. Their strength cannot be hidden or tamed; regardless of whether they want to, they easily get into the limelight.

However, they want a lot more than that in life, and they usually get it.

In this article, we’ll explore the hallmark strengths and weaknesses of Enneagram 8 females and how they handle common gender stereotypes.

What Are Enneagram 8 Females Like?

Enneagram 8 females are energetic, independent, and strong women who go after their desires unapologetically and relentlessly. Similarly, an Enneagram 8 male embodies these traits with a robust sense of determination and power, often channeling his energy into leadership roles and assertive actions.

These women don’t care for social gender roles and aren’t interested in conforming to public expectations in any way. They are hungry for power and all the independence and autonomy that come with it, as it makes them feel secure.

They are also very passionate, intense, and direct in their communication. For this reason, they are often perceived as intimidating, while they see themselves as simply being honest toward others.

In general, Type 8 women are very competent, ready to work hard for what they want, and they know what they want very early in life. That’s because they often had to learn to rely on themselves at a young age and, as a result, adopted a very mature and practical outlook on life and reality.

The Enneagram theory recognizes two Enneagram 8 female subtypes, which may display some traits of their neighboring types 7 and 9, depending on their Enneagram wing.

Both subtypes will be equally intense. Still, the Enneagram 8 with a 7 wing (8w7) will be more spontaneous, playful, and adventurous, while the Enneagram 8 with a 9 wing (8w9) will be calmer, more controlled, and more balanced.

4 Strengths of Enneagram 8 Females

Here are some of the most admirable Enneagram 8 female traits:

#1. Self-Confidence

Enneagram 8 females are the most self-confident among Enneagram women; they know their worth and will not lower their standards for anyone. This, combined with their self-awareness, is also one of the reasons they are recognized as leaders.

Moreover, their self-confidence empowers them to be assertive and communicate their needs and attitudes directly.

#2. Resilience

Type 8 females are very resourceful and resilient—they find a way out of every situation and aren’t intimidated by obstacles. On the contrary, they enjoy a healthy challenge, and nothing inspires them more to persevere than overcoming challenges.

Plus, because they are ready to face difficult situations calmly and rationally, Type Eight women have an amazing ability to devise innovative and practical solutions.

#3. Influence

Type 8 women are full of passion and zest for life, and their presence often inspires other people to remember what they are passionate about, too. Moreover, they are particularly motivated to empower other women to take control of their lives and stand up for themselves.

So, regardless of whether they do it on purpose or spontaneously, Type Eight women are always remembered for inspiring others to think differently, speak up, and pursue their dreams.

#4. Courage

Type Eight women aren’t afraid to take risks. They are bold and brave in the face of challenges, and theircourage is particularly evident in the way they react to injustice. No matter how risky it may be for them to stand up for what they believe is right, they never hesitate to defend their beliefs.

Their courage is another reason why they are seen as natural leaders, as people feel like they can rely on them for protection at all times.

4 Weaknesses of Enneagram 8 Females

The weaknesses of Enneagram 8 females largely stem from their tendency to deny their vulnerability.

Having that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the most challenging Enneagram 8 female characteristics:

#1. Disrespect of Rules

Type 8 women often have a bit of a criminal mind. They see rules only as obstacles to their desires and are very creative in coming up with ideas to avoid, ignore, or manipulate them to their advantage.

It’s not just that they see them as obstacles; they also tend to feel controlled when they are pressured to follow strict rules and can’t stand being controlled by others.

#2. Emotional Guard

Enneagram 8 females are strong and independent, yet they struggle with expressing tender feelings, which they perceive as weaknesses. They also have trust issues, which makes it hard for them to build emotional intimacy.

As a result, they have very few people with whom they can be really close, and they are very possessive and protective of them.

#3. Dominance

The Challenger women like to have everything under control and spontaneously take charge in every situation. While this trait is one of the reasons why they are perceived as natural leaders, it is also the reason they come off as overbearing, intimidating, and controlling.

Moreover, they may also find it hard to delegate tasks in team settings, as they are afraid to let go of control.

#4. Judgmental Attitude

Type Eight women often forget that not everyone can be as decisive, competent, and strong as they are. They project their high standards onto everyone around them and tend to feel betrayed when others don’t live up to their expectations.

Moreover, they also lack empathy in some aspects of their lives and are prone to black-and-white thinking. Needless to say, this may lead to hostility and conflicts even in their closest relationships.

3 Growth Tips for Enneagram 8 Females

Here are some constructive strategies that can teach Enneagram 8 females to grow and integrate their feelings with their biggest strengths:

#1. Foster Compassion

Enneagram 8 females can be compassionate, but they perceive it as a ‘weak’ emotion and, therefore, suppress it. Therefore, in order to grow, they just have to allow themselves to feel it. For that to happen, it is essential for them to understand that there are no emotions that should be considered weaknesses.

Cultivating empathy will expand their emotional capacity and make room for more emotional intimacy in their lives. Moreover, displaying more compassion will benefit their relationships, and they will also be better leaders when they open up and try to understand where others are coming from.

#2. Foster Emotional Awareness

It is common for Enneagram 8 women to ignore and negate the feelings they perceive as weak, which may make them emotionally illiterate. They might resort to anger, as it makes them feel powerful and helps them hide their vulnerability. Therefore, it is essential for them to develop their emotional intelligence.

Making peace with their own vulnerability and realizing that they can only become stronger if they learn to integrate all emotions into their experience is necessary for them to grow.

Moreover, they need to overcome the need to divide feelings into weak and strong and accept that all feelings are valuable and necessary.

#3. Learn to Ask for Help

Type 8 women are proud, and asking for help isn’t in their dictionary. Because of their need to have it all under control, they tend to overextend themselves and inevitably get exhausted. So, instead of asking for help at this point, they just push themselves to work harder.

Learning to ask for help may be uncomfortable for them, but it is essential and will also reflect positively on their relationships. Once they experience that, asking and getting the help they need makes them stronger, and they will change the way they approach problems in their lives.

Enneagram 8 Females in Relationships

Enneagram 8 female relationships are very intense and passionate. These women value loyalty, devotion, and deep emotional connection, so they need a partner who will not be intimidated by them and who will stand up to them.

Moreover, Enneagram 8 women enjoy heated debates, and their partners need to be capable of having these without feeling jeopardized by them. Type 8 women like to challenge their partners in many ways and, therefore, need someone who can bear their intensity.

Finally, let’s not forget another thing that Eights value in relationships, and that is passion and pleasure. Enneagram 8 females have a very pronounced hedonistic streak, and they need a partner who appreciates that.

Who Is Enneagram 8 Female the Most Compatible With?

An Enneagram 8 female is most compatible with Enneagram types who are as strong as they are. However, when healthy and depending on their emotional maturity, they can get along well with all Enneagram types.

Here are some of the best combinations:

• Enneagram 8 and Enneagram 1: Eights and Ones share the same intensity of passion. They are also both very ambitious, so Ones aren’t threatened by the Eights’ strength. Though some challenges are inevitable, as both can be very stubborn, they generally respect each other and share many values, so they usually get along well.
• Enneagram 8 and Enneagram 2: Twos are patient, compassionate, sensitive, and strong, and they can hold space for Type Eight women to be who they are without limiting their independence. Plus, both are very passionate and value strong emotional bonds, so this is usually a very harmonious relationship.
• Enneagram 8 and Enneagram 7: Eights and Sevens share the same passion for life and its pleasures. Both are fearless and thirsty for adventure, so their relationship is very exciting.

How to Interact With Enneagram 8 Female

Interacting with Enneagram 8 females requires tact, honesty, and a straightforward approach. Female Eights are impatient and have zero tolerance for beating around the bush and sugarcoating. So, whatever you have to say to them, make sure you say it respectfully and directly.

Otherwise, there’s a risk that they won’t take you seriously. Moreover, they might lose respect for you, which is pretty hard to regain.

How Can Enneagram 8 Females Build Stronger Relationships?

Enneagram 8 females can build stronger relationships by learning to stop avoiding all those feelings they consider weaknesses. This will enable them to build emotional intimacy with other people more easily and feel more comfortable in intimate relationships.

Best Careers for Enneagram 8 Females

The best careers for Enneagram 8 females are those that allow them to be independent and use their leadership potential and strategic skills.

Since they are very resilient and excellent problem-solvers, Type Eight women easily adapt to all kinds of business settings. Moreover, regardless of where they start from, they’ll always find their way to the top.

Bearing that in mind, here are some of the best Enneagram 8 careers:

• Chief Executive Officer
• Sales Manager
• Marketing Manager
• Attorney
• Politician
• Surgeon
• Financial Manager
• Real Estate Broker
• Entrepreneur
• Investment Banker
• Project Manager
• Operations Manager
• Detective

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Key Takeaways

Enneagram 8 females are fascinating in many ways and are probably the ones to thank for all the rights that women have today. For them, gender inequality is simply an injustice like any other, and they never fail to stand up against it.

With that in mind, let’s round off with some of the Enneagram 8 female key traits:

• An Enneagram 8 female is a strong, passionate, independent woman who doesn’t care for social norms.
• She is determined to get what she wants in life and boldly faces all challenges that test her perseverance and strength.
• Though their trust is hard to earn, they are the most loyal, protective, and honest friends one can ever have.