Women’s Circles: A Time-Honoured Tradition for the Modern Age
- Feb 9
- 4 min read
By Liisa Kovala
Finnish Canadian author, certified fiction and memoir book coach, and podcast host.
Women’s circles have a long tradition dating back to ancient times, and I suspect to the very beginning of time. Over the centuries and across cultures, women have gathered to create strong bonds and safe spaces, and to share the physical and emotional workload. Today, women’s circles exist in both the private and public spheres, creating opportunities for women to support one another and improve their own capacities.
Why a circle? Circles symbolize connection, unity, balance, wholeness, and infinity. When women come together for common purposes, individuals can benefit from the connectedness they feel and find purpose in their contribution to the group. Although individuals might not think of themselves as forming a circle, that invisible bond still exists.
In today’s world with more ways to connect than ever before, concern over a loneliness epidemic has been rising and researchers have been searching for answers. In “Social connection as a critical factor for mental and physical health: evidence, trends, challenges, and future implications,” Julianne Holt-Lundstad writes.
Factors including modernization in society, economic disparities, the introduction of digital technologies, shifts in civic engagement, growing political divides and radicalization, and others, have been examined as potential contributors to this decline in social connection. Whether this is a social recession, a loneliness epidemic, or a public health crisis, it is clearly a pressing issue.
In past centuries, women grouped together for a variety of purposes revolving around the day-to-day activities such as food preparation and childcare, as well as other tasks for their families and communities. The workload was lightened by the contribution of many hands. The groups provided social support and protection against tough times.
Holt-Lunstad J. Social connection as a critical factor for mental and physical health: evidence, trends, challenges, and future implications. World Psychiatry. 2024 Oct;23(3):312-332. doi: 10.1002/wps.21224. PMID: 39279411; PMCID: PMC11403199.
But these groups of women served a far more important purpose. Older women taught younger women necessary skills, imparted wisdom, and provided emotional support. Younger women assisted older women as they aged, taking on the role of caregiver, and healer. Women were valued for their roles and their knowledge. From one woman to another, from one decade to the next, the circle continued.
Women’s circles have also assembled to celebrate the divine feminine in a non-hierarchical community to share ideas freely without judgment. These kinds of circles revolved around healing, empowerment, self-discovery, and meditation. You can still find women’s circles today focussing on health, rejuvenation, and inner peace.
Sewing circles, knitting groups, book clubs, art clubs, dance groups, professional networking organizations, new mother groups, and grief circles, along with a host of other gathering types provide exactly what women need to both survive, and thrive: a community of like-minded individuals with empathy and skills to support one another and form a safe and inclusive network.
You might not think of your social gatherings, girls’ weekends, or coffee dates with girlfriends as women’s circles, but they are serving the same purposes. Whether it is to discuss work-related or personal issues, time with women friends is invaluable to one’s mental health and ability to problem solve.
In “Thriving together: the benefits of women's social ties for physical, psychological and relationship health,” Alisa Bedrov and Shelly L. Gable report the following:
The current research suggests that social support is fundamental to health and well-being and that the nature of women's social ties (i.e. high self-disclosure, intimacy, etc.) may make social support especially important and beneficial for women.
The study examines research surrounding women’s social interactions and its effects, suggesting that across cultures women benefit from the presence of other women.
Any task that requires commitment, time, effort, and support can benefit from a women’s circle. Personally, I’ve witnessed the power of a group of women coming together to follow their passion for writing. I created the Women Writing Circle to serve writers who needed time and space to write.
Bedrov A, Gable SL. Thriving together: the benefits of women's social ties for physical, psychological and relationship health. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2023 Jan 16;378(1868):20210441. doi: 10.1098/rstb.2021.0441. Epub 2022 Nov 28. PMID: 36440568; PMCID: PMC9703221.
The idea was simple: gather online and write together. There is something powerful about being surrounded—even virtually—with others who are doing the same thing. The concept of mirroring, in which a person unconsciously mimics what another person is doing, may be playing a role here. When we see others writing, we mirror their activities and are more likely to stay with the task than if we were on our own. That’s what women’s circles have always done: created a safe and supportive space to do the work, encouraged by seeing others do it, too.
You may already have a women’s circle in your life at work or in your community, but if you don’t, consider creating one. Lean on your skills, your passions, your knowledge, and invite others into the circle. Not only will you be creating a safe and supportive space for yourself and others, but you will be contributing to the health and wellbeing of women. Embrace the time-honoured tradition of women’s circles and reap the physical and mental rewards.
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