Why Women Over 40 Need Community More than Ever

There was a time my friend group was my world. An automatic girl (and guy) gang that was an automatic for happy hour, brunch, or bitch sessions.

As life fragments women across many demands and changes, many of us find our texts and calendars have cooled.

Why? And why does it matter?

Transition Time

Perimenopause. Empty nesting. Caring for kids/parents/in-laws. Divorce. Career shifts. Health stuff.

Are we having fun yet?

Ok, let’s add wild love affairs and bold new business ventures. Yet big changes can make it harder to stay close to or even relate to our social circles.

Finding people who can relate to new circumstances can help us navigate and flourish through change. And sometimes big growth is more possible with new connections who don’t see us in a fixed way.

The Need for the Non-Red Tent

Women need better information about menopause, and we often don’t get it at doctor’s appointments. Fewer than 1 in 5 health care professionals receive any formal training in menopause, even though 7 in 10 say they’d like more.

Wile’s research shows that 30% of women entering perimenopause don’t know exactly what it is. There’s a shocking lack of awareness about what is happening to our bodies and why (sudden insomnia, weight gain, hot flashes, increased anxiety—yes, it’s the hormones, stress included).

Our research also shows friends are the #1 source of info and support about perimenopause, greater than doctors or family. We need to speak openly, early, and often to eliminate the stigma and the knowledge gaps. (It’s also why we have so many long blog posts.)

Women Are Lonely & Loneliness Kills

Loneliness is a modern American epidemic. Some say it’s the new smoking, with even bigger health risks. It’s also one of the reasons so many of us are on antidepressants.

So What’s a Woman to Do? Revel.

We’ve noticed more women’s groups forming over the last several years, and finally, there is a go-to gathering place that speaks specifically to midlife women. Yes, we’re 100% here to rep our friends at Revel, but it’s a group we’ve been part of pre-Wile.

Yes, dear reader, we’re also a client! We appreciate the smart women factor as well as the relatability of shared life stage.

Why We Joined Revel

Women continue multitudes, some of which we’ve put aside and others we haven’t had time to explore yet. Anyone else been meaning to try a painting class for the last 17 years?

Lots of Choices

With more than 100 different events each week to choose from (and growing):

• The Writer’s Room
• Seriously Saturday Night at the Movies
• Declutter and Chat
• Monday Night Sex Chat
• Or, want to organize your own local meetup or online event? Revel makes it easy to create an event and meet others who share your interests

There are also 90+ online discussion forums to drop into or become a regular in, including regional ones:

• The Woolfer: A confidential forum for women over 40, with a bent toward the literary, witty, and feminist.
• Sex Chat: Candid and safe forum to talk about sex
• Moms of Adult “Children”: A forum for mothers to talk, share, and commiserate about the joys and challenges of parenting “kids” in their 20s and 30s.
• Regional spaces for NYC Metro Revelers, DC Metro Revelers, Bay Area Revelers, etc

Female Founder-Friendly

You can become a Power Host and host your own events on the platform and even charge for them, which is a great way to test out business ideas, develop a side gig or expand your client and partner network in a safe space with a midlife target.

Non-Toxic

It’s also an accessible but responsible group that is moderated and there to answer questions and concerns. As social platforms have changed, that matters.

Oh, did we mention it’s free, and so are most events? Try it and tell us what you think.