The Evolution of Community: How Women Are Redefining Connection

By: Jabria Williams

Wherever you look, you’ll see a roaring desire from women to have a sense of community.

The recent generations of women have endured unprecedented world events. All that shaped how we perceive the world and each other.  While dealing with recent layoffs, political division, and societal scrutiny for simply existing. Community for women is no longer a want; it’s a must. 

According to Cambridge Dictionary, community is a “group of people living in the same place or having a similar characteristic.” Like with most things, how this shows up in society has continued to evolve. According to IRC History, “The first online community was extremely basic and had a “read-only” format.”

However, with some advancements, by 1973, Talkomatic was born. Conceived on the campus of the University of Illinois. Talkomatic was one of the first digital communities with separate windows for communication. Creating a feature that bred real-time interaction in an online capacity.  

Even with the technological and societal advancements we have today. We now exist in a world post Covid-19. So for more people than you think, community is something that often falls seldom in their lives.

We watched face to face moments become monotonous scrolling on Instagram. Physical interactions with close peers became surface level small talk with colleagues through Zoom. The things we had to do to survive and the places we used to frequent, stopped fueling us. 

We watched our world become a place that lacked collectiveness and inspired individuality. 

While there are a plethora of negative impacts of individuality, there is a side that people tend to not highlight. The side that shows you that you can do more, lead more and own more. For many, the need to belong stems from the want to better themselves as individuals.

And when looking at recent data, it’s clear. Women of color are increasingly growing a desire for professional ownership and belonging. According to TheLi.st.com, only 19% of WOC (women of color) report being happy/satisfied with their current careers. 27% do not feel respected or supported by their direct reports. 

While it is a stark insight, the fact that 17% of Black women are currently in the process of starting or running a new business. It’s clear that women aren’t letting these numbers hold them back, but they are finding light on an usually dark road. 

Women of color, more than ever, are looking for a sense of belonging and ownership. Doing so while continuing to stand on the shoulders of the giants who came before them. Whether it’s West Africans social groups where women were not only the builders but also the protectors. Or online chat rooms that gave people a sense of connection in a digital realm that had not been seen before. Society continues to evolve what community looks like and the need for it.