By Kate Shepperd

Community is a natural part of human nature. We’re not meant to be solitary creatures, and, regardless of whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert, surrounding yourself with like-minded people is a must for your wellbeing. But how, in particular, do supportive communities benefit women?

From loneliness to health, we’ll take a closer look at the importance of women-led communities in this blog post.

Creating a Safe Space to Share

Talking and listening are the foundations of women’s wellbeing. By establishing safe, supportive spaces in which women can come together to share, communities provide an outlet for our individual emotions and experiences.  

This might sound simple, but the experience can be transformative. Having just one conversation a day with a friend increases happiness and lowers stress, making it a massive mood-booster for women’s wellbeing.  

Talking is also a well-known aspect of mental health treatments. Speaking about your problems or worries aloud can promote healing, taking some of the power out of the situation and helping you feel more in control.

When it comes to mental health in women, a space to talk shouldn’t be overlooked.  

Finding Your Voice

Many communities out there are often united by a common belief or agenda. You’re meeting people whose views align with your own, who want to listen when you speak and can often relate and help validate some of the more difficult feelings we all experience.

When it comes to helping women find their voice and advocate for themselves (a crucial concept of wellbeing), a like-minded community is a powerful thing.

At Bristol Women’s Voice, for instance, the community is all about championing inclusive feminism in all its wonderful forms. With get-togethers focused on equality and the myriads of ways we can uplift women in society, they’re full of women and non-binary individuals who want to do the same.

Being part of a supportive community like this can help you find confidence in your voice.

You’re given a space to speak up, be heard, and connect to others who share your beliefs.

Navigating Physical Changes and Women’s Wellness

Having a space to talk openly about changes you’re seeing in your body can help you feel understood. These are communities where you can share frustrations, swap advice, and learn more about the normal (but not often spoken about) parts of ageing.  

Weight gain, for instance, affects around half of all women when they reach menopause. It’s one of the most common impacts of hormonal fluctuations and a normal part of life as we get older, yet it’s not often spoken about.

Communities give women a space to talk about these personal changes freely and with confidence. They can also help you to explore options to make ageing easier. For some, that might mean adjusting lifestyle habits, like movement and nutrition. For others, it could involve looking into women’s health options, including weight loss treatments, hormone health consultations, pelvic floor support, or mental wellbeing strategies.

Having open, honest conversations with others who’ve been through similar changes helps you realise what’s normal, too. Spoiler alert: most of us are experiencing the same things!

Tackling Society’s Stigmas

Weight is a prime example of a stigma that supportive communities can break down, but there are plenty more. These judgement-free spaces give women an opportunity to talk about topics that they don’t always feel free to, like body image, libido, and misogyny.  

For many women, these subjects are shaped by unrealistic expectations and cultural pressures, making them hard to talk about. When kept private, though, they can reinforce feelings of shame or isolation. It’s easy to feel ‘othered’ when normal experiences are frowned upon.

We’ve seen the effects of this first-hand at Bristol Women’s Voice. When women are given the space to break down stigmas and talk openly, there’s an almost tangible shift in the air, like a sense of relief. It creates this wonderful moment of coming together, where someone who might have felt misunderstood finds their people.

Together, we can break down society’s stigmas and help more women feel understood and validated.

Reducing Feelings of Isolation

It’s been found that, as we get older, women tend to be lonelier than men. This makes female-led communities more important than ever.  

Loneliness isn’t something we should take lightly. It can be a debilitating feeling that saps confidence and is incredibly harmful to our mental health. In fact, loneliness can lead to a whole host of negative mental and physical impacts, including:

• Worsening depression and anxiety

• Sleep problems

• Low self-esteem

• Increased risk of dementia

• Higher chance of heart disease and strokes

Supportive, female-led communities provide a simple way to combat loneliness, showing that it doesn’t need to be hard to find new friends or a place to feel you belong.  

For women’s well-being, this is transformative. Supportive community spaces drive connections that empower us to get out into the world and explore, accompanied by other women. Whether it’s trying a new fitness class or simply meeting for coffee, these groups reinforce that none of us has to face life alone.

Boosting Confidence and Self-Worth

Being part of an established community comes with a major confidence boost.

If you struggle with self-esteem and anxiety, being surrounded by a bunch of supportive women is bound to lift you up. The right group can be such a positive, inspiring space, full of love and celebration. It’s almost impossible to leave without feeling better about yourself!

You can find communities that encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone, too. You might try speaking up in front of the group, for instance, or going out for your first hike with new friends. Over time, these opportunities turn into personal growth, and taking a leap to try something new doesn’t seem so scary.  

Seeing a challenge and doing it anyway, surrounded by women cheering you on, is possibly one of the greatest experiences for boosting your self-worth.

Overcoming Life’s Challenges

Everybody goes through tough times. Whether you’ve lost your job or are working through grief, dealing with these challenges alone is a scary and isolating experience.  

By joining a community, women can tap into a network of people who are ready to help each other through life’s hurdles. This can take on all sorts of forms, including:

Giving you a safe space to talk through your emotions

Providing acts of service  

Offering advice from shared experiences

Ensuring you’re looking after yourself

When women come together to support one another, it means no one’s left behind. Whether it’s a home-cooked meal when you’re struggling or a text in the evening just to check you’re okay, these little acts of community can make all the difference.

Final Thoughts

Women’s wellbeing takes many forms and communities can be there to support them all. From physical health to emotional wellness, the right group of people make life that little bit better.

If you live in Bristol and are looking for a strong, female-led community, you can join Bristol Women’s Voice as a member.