As women, we’ve always been pitted against one another. Whenever one of us accomplishes something, it is as if we have done so at a personal cost to each other. For example, if your friend is getting married, it makes people question you: Why aren’t you? Don’t you have someone? What is she doing that you aren’t to find love? It is so strange how one person’s happiness or success must immediately be linked to another’s failure. Anyone who is a woman (or identifies as one) knows that we don’t actually dislike each other. In fact, most of us share some of life’s most unexpectedly sweet moments with other women.
The reassurance that you feel when you need any kind of help–in a bizarre setting–and have another woman come through for you is commendable, and the unexpected friendship must be praised. Here are seven random life situations where women will always have each other’s backs.
When you have a period emergency
We’ve all had an unexpected visit from AuntyFlo when we least expect it. Never have I ever asked a group of women for a pad and been disappointed, be it at work, a club, or even at a family gathering. If they can’t find me one, I know someone or the other will come through with a solution to help a sister out!
When you need to keep an eye on the back of your outfit while on your period
Ah, the fear that comes with having a heavy flow. We all need to do that last-minute check before stepping out of the washroom. And who helps out when you can’t see the back of your pants to check if they’re stained? Another woman!
When you’re waiting in the bathroom line
There is an unsaid rule that if you see a woman hopping on one leg from another, you let her cut the line in the bathroom.
When you’re wearing heels and slip on the sidewalk
Been there (*ouch*) and experienced that! Every woman knows the pain of wearing heels and twisting her leg while walking, which is why reaching out to steady someone else comes SO instinctively.
When you see a woman crying in the public bathroom
This is honestly more heartbreaking than we’d like to admit. Even if we can’t reach out and comfort someone, there is no question that we will give her a sympathetic smile or a worried glance. And always slip her a tissue.
When you see hateful comments on another woman’s posts on social media
One random troll or just some insensitivity on social media is all it takes for women to build a community and descent upon the offensive person and support the victim.
When a public figure says anything sexist
It is no secret that our society is deeply misogynistic but the fact that people feel comfortable enough to voice their sexist opinions on a public platform is baffling. Whenever this happens, women band together to show their outrage. No, we don’t need people to comment on what we should wear (or shouldn’t), how we should look (or shouldn’t), and what we need to do to live our lives in peace.