What does it mean to be a woman? Here's what 40 women (and girls) have to say.

This is what makes us girls.

Women depicted in art thoughout history. Artists featured (clockwise from top left): Auguste Toulmouche, Kang Tao, Peder Severin Krøyer, Gustav Klimt, Chidinma Nnoli

“What does womanhood mean to you?” To celebrate International Women’s Day I asked my community of women this question.

I surveyed a diverse group. The youngest participant was 5 years old. The oldest was 74. I included at least one person from every decade in between. Race, nationality, geographic location, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation varied.

For some women, myself included, this question elicited feelings of power, identity, celebration, and joy.

For others, it’s loaded. If the negative aspects of your womanhood outweigh the positives, it’s not an easy or comfortable question to answer. This was especially true for the older women I surveyed, whose female experience differs drastically than younger generations today. If ‘woman’ is too rigid of a term and your gender identity sits on a more fluid spectrum, it’s not an easy or comfortable question to answer. A handful of women opted out of participating for these reasons, among others.

While there is (much) nuance to womanhood, the universal themes uncovered in this survey were heartwarming. Many touched on the duality of softness and strength. Others on female intuition. But the resounding commonality of people’s answers centered around the power of female friendship, community and sisterhood.

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Women have always relied on each other. Female connection is woven into the makeup of who we are. It’s the quality that many of us hold in the highest regard. And creating this connection and community is only possible when people feel comfortable expressing their innately feminine qualities of empathy, vulnerability, compassion, and collaboration.

It’s hard not to directly compare these universal sentiments to the ‘male loneliness epidemic’ that we keep hearing about. The antidote for loneliness is community. If young boys and men were taught to embrace and celebrate their innately feminine qualities instead of discouraging and suppressing them, would there be an epidemic of loneliness? This was an unexpected thought that came up while writing this piece. Something to explore deeper another time.

Right now I want to share the responses I received from the women and girls I surveyed. Participants were able to answer one of two questions. First up:

What is your favorite thing about being a woman?

• “Having nice, long hair and wearing headbands!” - Maren, 5

• “One of my favorite things about being a woman is the way we celebrate life - big or small - with no shame. Whether it’s dressing up for the Eras Tour, celebrating life wins, or creating spaces where we can just have fun and be ourselves, there’s something uniquely special about the way women uplift and support each other.” - Maddie, 27

• “Knowing that you’re always going to be underestimated which means you can always prove people wrong.” - Meagan, 33

• “My favorite thing about being a woman is being able to help other girls with the littlest thing like touching up their makeup or hair and helping decide which outfit is best.” - Grace, 14

• “The depth of the relationships we build in our lives is unparalleled. The empathetic, vulnerable, nurturing, and communicative bonds we form are so unique—men could never fully understand or replicate. Equally as important to me: women’s intuition! Thank god for that.” - Rachel, 32

• “The freedom to do what I want. The ability to develop my talents. I love being a wife, mother, and grandma! I have to say that being a grandma is one of the most enjoyable things I’ve ever experienced. Not that my own children weren’t fabulous, but the dynamics of being a grandma are different. Being a woman and having a support system of friends, even at my age, is paramount. Still being able to be fashion conscious. Finding feminine joy.” - DeAnna, 74

• “One of my favorite things about being a woman is belonging to an incredible group called sisterhood. There is nothing stronger than women coming together to support, encourage, and inspire each other. Truly one of the greatest treasures of my life.” - Jenny, 52

• “My favorite thing about being a girl is I’m not a boy. Because boys are mean. I get to be so pretty and say “I’m so pretty.” Mostly my friends are better.” - Suzie, 9

• “Being able to really emotionally connect with others.” - Caitlin, 33

• “My favorite part of being a woman is that I get to embrace all the layers of who I am- I can be soft and fierce, quiet and bold, logical and emotional—womanhood is about embracing these dualities. Women are so incredibly multifaceted! There is a Buddhism belief that a soul evolves over many lifetimes, gradually refining itself before incarnating as a woman, as femininity is seen as a more advanced spiritual state due to its association with intuition, receptivity, and creation. I say- hell yeah!” - Xan, 35

• “Girl power! At recess I like being able to play all the games with the boys because we can do anything they can do.” - Brinley, 9

• “One of my favorite things about being a woman is the "girlhood" community and unspoken bond of even just being a woman. We look out for each other, are each other's biggest cheerleaders (even to strangers online), express empathy to one another, and have a collective common thread that we are all in this together.” - Chelsea, 32

• “Oh gosh, so many things. Generally speaking, women are expected to “be emotional,” which over the years has excluded us from many a room, table, title, etc. I think we are finally entering an era where being able to express emotion in any setting is seen as a valuable skill (duh)! I know I’m making generalizations but for the sake of this sentiment, let’s roll with it. As women, we don’t grow up with the toxic masculinity that keeps men from learning how to have mature conversations about their feelings. I think that is my favorite thing about being a woman–the permission to feel, and consequently the freedom to learn how to synthesize those feelings into a solution, or understanding of our fellow humans. To feel all that we feel unabashedly, with encouragement from our sisters (both metaphorically and literally), is a beautiful thing.” - Nicole, 32

• “My favorite thing about girlhood is the friendships. I can see the difference with my friends and boy groups! We aren’t afraid to hug our friends like them!” - Emerson, 11

• “One of my favorite things about being a woman is having strong gut instincts. I’m convinced our superpower is intuition — we’re able to feel shifts and foresee outcomes in ways that men could never even dream of. Just think about how many times you’ve been able to pick up on something being off with a friend, or how many stories you’ve heard of a girl going off of a “feeling” and catching her partner cheating. We are incredibly perceptive and in tune with our emotions, which allows us to sense when something feels right or wrong. The hard part is finding the strength to trust those instincts. In my experience, this is made a lot easier through the support of equally intuitive girlfriends.” - Jenna, 31

• “As someone who recently went through the process of egg retrieval/embryo freezing while simultaneously treating the search for wedding venues like a group project with my mom, I am deeply grateful for the chance to someday become a mother, and for the unique bond I share with my own. It’s an unbelievably special relationship that I feel so lucky to have as a woman, and cherish deeply.” - Tasha, 37

• “Our capacity, as women, for being strong and soft, and often at the same time. To feel things deeply and connect with others while still making life real, whimsical and fun.” - Cassey, 40

• “Being able to do anything, plus being “able” to ask a man to help me if I need.” - Chiara, 44

• “My favorite thing about being a woman is our resilience. Womanhood has taught me so much about lending support and accepting it when I need it too. I’m always in awe of what we’re capable of when we stop comparing ourselves to each other and support each other instead. We’ve overcome so much and I know we will continue to do so.” - Laura, 32

• “There are many joys of being a woman, but at the top of my list is being a mom. The saying, “Having a child is like having your heart walk around outside your body,” rings true for me — one of the many lessons parenthood has taught me. I am blessed with four amazing, talented, and beautiful children, now grown. Being their mom has been one of the most profound experiences of my life, offering endless opportunities for growth in ways both complex and unexpected. It all began in 1989 when I was gifted a sweet baby boy. He opened a part of me I hadn’t yet discovered — the ability to be patient, not only with him but with myself and others. He taught me to trust and view the world from a new perspective. As my family grew with the births of my daughter and two more sons, so did the immense love I carried for each of them — a love that only multiplied over the years. Parenthood has not been all rainbows and butterflies; it’s a journey of dedication, resilience, and meeting inevitable challenges with grace, humor, curiosity, and boundless love.

  Even now, as adults, my children continue to be my greatest teachers — offering big love and invaluable lessons through our continued connection and mutual respect. While there were missteps along the way, changing any part of the journey might alter who I am as a woman today.” - Gina, 63

• “One thing I love is that I’m anticipated to be vulnerable, and therefore take in the world in such a way. I appreciate that it’s expected of me as it pushes me to see the nuances of the world in a more interesting way.’ - D, 32

• “That we can be strong, independent, fierce and also be caring, loving, compassionate, and gentle.” - Diana, 67

• “My favorite thing about being a woman is the joy and magic of being in community with other women. Our world can be unsafe, inequitable, and unjust for women; yet, I am always in awe of the countless brave and resilient women/femmes who refuse to be pushed aside, have their lights dimmed, or have their voices silenced. I've also had the privilege of being uplifted and supported by other women as I navigate life's challenges. I find the greatest inspiration, healing, and empowerment being in community with other women. That feels like such a gift to me. How lucky am I?” - Yoko, 43

What does womanhood mean to you?

• “I’ve been trying to summarize all of the things womanhood represents to me and I finally landed on “graceful power”. But I use the word graceful in the sense of the root word “grace”; giving of love, life and charity. Not necessarily as the term is narrowly defined in elegance or beauty. We are the keepers of life, what’s more powerful than that?” - Brenda, 53

• “Womanhood to me is knowing the power in softness. To be confident in all aspects of my inherent femininity: nurturance, sensitivity, sweetness, supportiveness, gentleness, warmth, passivity, cooperativeness, expressiveness, modesty, humility, empathy, affection, tenderness, emotional depth, kindness and understanding. Womanhood is to know just how much power we hold in the natural world and just how much power we hold when we become AWARE of our power. "Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women." - Maya Angelou.” - Alana, 33

• “Womanhood to me is female friendship. It’s the special bonds we form with other women that only we understand. Yes, it’s gossiping on rooftop bars and two hour FaceTimes and sharing makeup and clothes - but it’s also the importance of forming community with women who will support and advocate for one another. Especially these days. Maybe Charlotte York was right when she said “Maybe we could be each other soulmates. And then we could let men be just these great, nice guys to have fun with.” - A, 33

• “Womanhood, to me, is the perfect balance of resilience and softness, strength and intuition, intellect and emotion. It’s about owning my choices—whether in career, health, or personal growth—without waiting for permission or validation. It means navigating expectations with confidence, challenging outdated norms, and redefining success on my own terms. Womanhood is about both leading and nurturing, embracing independence while creating space for meaningful connection. It’s about the quiet power of persistence, the courage to evolve, and the unwavering ability to show up as my fullest, most authentic self every day.” - Kaytee, 42

• “To me, being a woman means being strong, supportive, and true to myself. I love how women lift each other up and create a sense of community. It’s about balancing kindness and strength while making a difference in the world.” - Skye, 21

• “Womanhood offers women of all kinds, the ability to witness oneself defy externally-imposed obstacles at every turn.” - Natalia, 44

• “When I think about what it means to be a woman, I think about sisterhood. The community of women who raised me and continue to raise me (as a 31-year old woman, I still feel like I'm in the process of becoming an adult!) are the guiding light in my life. From my mother to my sisters, aunts, and friends who feel more like family, sisterhood is knowing you have a bench full of women cheering on your wins, as well as there to catch you when you fall. I love celebrating IWD every year because women are the foundation of my life and without them and the sisterhood we share, I'd be entirely lost.” - Kayla, 31

• “To me, womanhood is community and the simple, vulnerable power of balancing the expectation to do it all, while respectfully doing your version of it all. We build careers, show up for our families and friends, try to nourish our bodies and minds, navigate setbacks, and so much more - all while managing to hold it together without a full blown mental breakdown. Or even occasionally having a mental breakdown… and that’s OK because what makes it possible - and what makes it worth it - is the power of community we have with other women. The friendships that are open, honest, laughable, vulnerable, and real. We don’t shy away from shared experiences and compassion. There’s something so unique about the way women show up for each other, and I think that connection is one of the most meaningful parts of being a woman.” - Hannah, 33

• “Womanhood is support. It’s love, compassion and charity. Being a woman means I am inherently closer to godliness.’ - Meleah, 42

• “As women we are wired to be mothers, caretakers and loving. And if you find the right friends, it’s lifting and supporting. Not to mention the fact we are able to make other human beings. The energy between men and women is very different, how often do you see a man complimenting another, compared to a woman?” - Eve, 13

• “Womanhood to me, is the ability to constantly evolve, shift, and grow with whatever life throws our way. We don’t get the luxury of staying the same, we reinvent ourselves, adjust to challenges, and balance so many versions of who we are at once. Whether it’s in work, relationships, or personal growth, we figure it out, even when we don’t have a clear roadmap. That ability to navigate change, to be everything all at once, is what makes being a woman so powerful.” - Eden, 29

• “What a great question. I think for me, womanhood, comes down to a set of characteristics and traits. Yes- physically women are receivers- so if we take that idea and apply it to emotions and actions- that is a real power. Being a receiver doesn’t mean being passive; it means having the wisdom to hold, transform, and give back in ways that shape everything around us. To me- that means women also innately (sure not all women) have the ability to hold space for others, to be both soft and unshakable. It’s not about dominance or control but about influence, resilience, and connection. Connection is the basis of all human interaction- and creating the space for that is a gift. As women we can choose to use love as a guiding force. Teaching others around us that empathy is not a weakness, it’s a super power. Having the ability to care about another’s well being while still being able to regulate our own emotions?? Pretty fantastic. Is there a lot to navigate-physically, emotionally, and mentally as a woman? Yes. But again- resilience. So overall, being a woman is awesome.” - Jessie, 35

• “Not being a man! LOL just kidding :) There is so much that I love about being a woman. The first thing that comes to mind is the relationships that I am able to have with other women. I think there is such strength and resilience in being a girl because there is so much social conditioning that we have to overcome to find out and be who we really are. For me and most of the women I know, it has been a process to detach from the archaic expectations of our gender in order to find our own confidence and our own path. Even though this is NOT my favorite part about being a woman, I do think that it enables us all to connect to each other on an extraordinarily deep level, even if it's an acquaintance or a moment in passing. We've all heard the tropes/jokes about women meeting for the first time in a restaurant bathroom and crying and telling each other they love each other before going back to their tables. While this might be an exaggeration, it's also kind of a beautiful example of what I mean. I have 100% said I love you - and meant it! - to a woman I barely know. There is a recognition of our power and a flicker of our shared struggle every time I meet and talk to another woman. I am so grateful for that because it has always made me feel like I am not alone in this world. And not to make it about this but I honestly don't think that's something that men have. The ability to understand another woman no matter who she is runs, innately through us all. So in short, I love being a woman because of how it enables me to love, see and be seen by other women.” - Nina, 35

& we even got a beautiful poem:

• Womanhood is being wild. It is the pulse of life that grows untamed beneath our feet, rooted in the earth we call Mother. I see myself there, hair tangled in the wind, sun spilling over my skin like honey, running barefoot until the ground pulls me in, embracing me as if I were made of its very dust. There is something sacred in this bond, a quiet knowing that the earth and womanhood are intertwined, each mirroring the other in cycles of birth, growth, and renewal.

  She cradles me in her vastness, her breath twining through my hair, her golden skies giving warmth into my bones. Her rivers run through me, threading my body with the same water that nourishes all things, sustaining each heart that beats. I feel her whisper in the rustling leaves, "Go, be wild, my child," and in that whisper, she gifts me life.

  This great, maternal force, the one I feel so deeply from the earth washes over me when I watch my daughter, who once grew inside me, now reaching for the world with her own small hands. She, too, is discovering the power in her connection to this land, just as I have. Womanhood is an inheritance, passed through generations of unseen strength. It is the quiet resilience of those who came before us, their whispers woven into our very being.

  We are bearers of light, and while we have the power to share it, we must first know how to claim it as our own. I feel this light in the rhythm of creation, in the way my body once housed another soul, in the gratitude I carry for the women who walked before me, lending me their strength.

  I rise with the moon and stars, I shine as fiercely as the midday sun, and I run untethered as a child of the earth. To be a mother, a woman grounded in the wisdom of those before me, is an honour. So here are the words of womanhood I leave with you, dear reader, "Go, be wild, my child," for you are made of light. You are a woman, born of earth, bound to the cosmos, and honoured in this life.” - F, 27

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There’s something inherently woman about choosing to celebrate beauty, create lasting friendships, and lead with empathy, when the whole world is working against you. Despite it all, we still feel lucky.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to these questions—for showing up for me. So very girly of you!!!

xx Caylee