The Importance of Having a Sisterhood

In the current times, our vocabulary would be incomplete without the word ‘Sisterhood.’ However, around 50 years ago, the word entered the contemporary vernacular with a whole different connotation. In 1970, author Kate Millett, leader of the feminist movement of that time, proposed the word Sisterhood. Millet’s aim was to give the women’s collective such a name that would remain synonymous with their historic and day-to-day struggle for ages to come.

A Sisterhood is a social union among women without discrimination against any class, religion, or ethnicity. It is a pact between a group of women based on social, ethical, and emotional values. The basic premise of Sisterhood is that together, women are stronger than as individuals, and they cannot be totally empowered unless they treat each other as sisters and not as opponents.

A Sisterhood is a collective of women who are bound together by shared experiences and interests. It is an unconditional alliance between like-minded women who empower and lift each other.

Although there are countless benefits of Sisterhood, we have listed a few for your reference below. It should serve as a cue to you as to why Sisterhood among women is important.

A sense of community

In a world where patriarchy is still rampant, women need to band together and create a robust community. Apart from creating strong connections, Sisterhood can bring a sense of belonging to women who feel isolated and alone. Loneliness can increase blood pressure, stress, depression, and anxiety. Therefore, Sisterhood works as a buffer against the detrimental effects of loneliness.

When women reach out to each other, their brains release a feel-good chemical called oxytocin. This chemical instantly reduces anxiety, improves focus and concentration, and encourages them to bond.

As human beings, we are immensely hardwired to crave friendship. Therefore, in Sisterhood, women stay together as a ‘social family,’ and it helps them feel safe, loved, and accepted.

Empowers and Inspires

A Sisterhood empowers and inspires women to become the best version of themselves by pushing them to grow and develop in all aspects of life. It helps them deal with personal struggles and feelings of defeat. In a Sisterhood, women encourage each other to achieve things that they individually may not feel are possible. With the support of a powerful group and with their best interests at heart for each other, women in the Sisterhood can find the confidence to reach new heights together.

It is a common trait amongst all human beings to honor the love and support they get from people who understand what it takes to achieve the things that they have achieved. In the Sisterhood, women are receptive to constructive criticism from one another, especially the ones who may share similar struggles, and understand the kind of obstacles it takes to obtain respect in a patriarchal world.

Sisterhood Promotes Well-being

Studies have shown that feelings of kinship and friendship decrease a person’s stress levels and help in improving mental health and personal well-being. Apart from impacting the quality of life of an individual, one of the studies concluded that women who had many friends during their youth had a direct impact on the number of impairments that occurred later in their lives. Having a strong Sisterhood can help improve a woman’s overall well-being.

A study conducted by UCLA (University of California) suggests that a bond between women is unique and helpful. Scientists say that the company of like-minded women releases oxytocin and helps women counteract the stress of day-to-day lives. The same amount of effect was not recorded in men.

Sisterhood Gives You Love

A unique aspect of Sisterhood is that it is always more than an ordinary friendship. It is a bond between women that is unconditional and with no strings attached. In a true Sisterhood, women not only share happy occasions but also support and comfort each other during tough times. Come what may, women in a sisterhood are always there for each other.

Inspiration from Sisterhood

Women in Sisterhood inspire each other to bring out their better sides. There is no better inspiration than what comes from sisters who love and support each other in everything that they do.

Women in Sisterhood hold each other accountable for their actions. This is because when they get to learn about the morals and values of one another, they do not allow each other to derail from their paths. And if ever a sister is in a situation where a decision could hurt her values or morals, they remind her of the woman that they know.

Comfort

Sisterhood is a comfort zone for women. In Sisterhood, women can be their true selves. Sisters in Sisterhood do not judge each other for their actions. You can binge-watch Netflix all day and can chow down on all the snacks you want, and nobody will judge you. Your sisters might even join you in the fun. Your Sisters would know your true side, and you would take comfort in their company.

No Judgements

Sisterhood is a ‘social family’ where a woman feels accepted, loved, and cared for. No matter what your actions are, your sisters are never going to judge you. They will treasure and value your secrets and will take them to their graves. Even when the whole world may stand against you and judge you for your actions, Sisterhood would be a safe space where you can share and heal. Your Sisters will never allow you to bottle up your emotions due to the fear of embarrassment or judgment. You can rest assured that no misogynistic, sexist, or bad comments will be passed.

Secret Keepers

In a Sisterhood, your sisters are your secret keepers. You can confide your worst fears in them and tell them your darkest secrets because, as already stated, nobody will judge you for being real or showing your true self. Instead, they will cheer you on and create an unbreakable bond.

There may be many things happening in your life that you may not want the world to know, but in Sisterhood, your secrets and struggles will be kept safe by the sisters you trust.

Your Go-To Girls

Your sisters in the Sisterhood would always be a pillar behind you. Whenever you feel stressed or strained, you can always reach out to your sisters for comfort, support, and help. Whether it is trouble in your love life, personal issues, familial problems, or anything else, your sisters would always be your go-to girls. From a big problem like a toxic family or a minor one where you are not able to find a perfect dress to wear, you can rant about everything in front of your sisters, and they will listen patiently and without any complaints.

Get Honest Opinions from Sisterhood

In Sisterhood, women do not reach out to anyone except their sisters if they need an opinion or a suggestion in their lives. Sisters in the Sisterhood give each other the most honest opinions. They do not sugarcoat things. Even if their opinions are not positive or may not seem supportive, they will speak the truth and lay the facts bare in front of you.

The best thing about Sisterhood is that sisters do not mansplain each other. They never make their sisters feel dumb about things they do not know. Instead, they try to educate them. Because Sisterhood, in all its manifestations, is a space where women learn from one another and have a great many things to offer each other.

End Thoughts

Research published in the Harvard Business Review states that while both men and women benefit from a close circle of supportive people, women achieve the highest possible levels of success in their respective goals if their inner circle comprises other supportive women.

Sisterhood allows women to thrive by meeting their core psychological needs that are threatened in a world that prejudices against them and marginalizes them in the work environment. All in all, Sisterhood is a women’s best available bet!