The Science of Sisterhood
Embracing the Science of Sisterhood: A Lifeline for Midlife Women by Adrianna Sholes-Douglas (2025) discusses the mental and physical health benefits of prioritizing time with friends. The points discussed here support the concept of a multi-party banking system for friends.
As a gynecologist, I’ve spent years understanding and advocating for women’s health. During this time, I’ve seen how profoundly our friendships impact our well-being. Yes, we adore our partners and cherish family time, but there’s something uniquely special and irreplaceable found in those heartfelt, no-holds-barred conversations with our girlfriends.
These female friendships are more than just camaraderie—they’re emotional lifelines. They offer spaces where we feel seen, heard, and understood without judgment. In sisterhood, we find honesty, laughter, and sometimes the most needed reality checks. Most importantly, these bonds help us dissect life’s complexities.
I’ve recently facilitated sister circles both at home and during this trip. Even as a professional gynecologist, I’m often reminded that no matter how much we know, there’s always more to learn when women bring their experiences to the table. Our shared stories about relationships, menopause, sex, and self-image dish out doses of learning unmatched elsewhere.
Science backs what we’ve always felt in our hearts—connections with our girlfriends are crucial for our mental and physical health. They decrease anxiety and depression, increase life spans, and charter us through life’s ebbs and flows. Women, when united, create a robust support system, promoting not just prolonged life but a better quality of it.
For those of you who, like me, don’t have siblings, building this tribe of sisters becomes essential. Our friendships evolve, just as we do. They navigate us through hormonal shifts, career transitions, and the inevitable reality of aging. These bonds act as our emotional anchors in the tumultuous seas of life.
So ladies, put those friendships higher on your priority list, and give them the nourishment they deserve. Whether it’s a lunch date, a spa day, or getting on a catamaran and literally letting your hair down (or taking it off, as some of us might), cherish these connections. They are integral to your well-being.
Remember, it’s okay to prioritize yourself and to find joy in these connections. Jettison the guilt and soak in the happiness derived from genuine camaraderie. Because as you fill your own cup with love and laughter from your girlfriends, you become better equipped to face the world, rejuvenated and whole.
So, here’s to our sisterhood—may we find it, treasure it, and let it fill our hearts with joy. Stay beautiful, stay brilliant, and above all, stay juicy. (Sholes-Douglas, 2025)
Sholes-Douglas discusses the importance of female friendships. These connections are significant as friendship bonds are beneficial for women’s mental and physical health. If more people understood the benefits of these friendships, they might prioritize these connections more in their lives.
As relationships, health, and well-being are priorities for many people, I believe that many individuals don’t understand all of the ways they can nurture these priorities. For example, many people might consider that going on a trip with their friends would interrupt them from focusing on their priorities. However, these people may not understand that going on trips with friends actually supports their priorities. People may also feel uncomfortable discussing financial goals with their friends, but taking time to discuss finances with friends actually allows their connections to grow deeper and stronger, leading to improved mental and physical health.
Within a multi-party banking system, I want to convey that banking and discussing finances with friends can promote connections that benefit people on a deep level.
References.
Sholes-Douglas, A. (2025, February 24). Embracing the Science of Sisterhood: A Lifeline for Midlife Women. Dr. Arianna. https://drarianna.com/2025/02/24/embracing-science-of-sisterhood-midlife-women/
A.I. was not used for this article.
