Gal Pals: Female Bonding Powers Positive Mental and Physical Well-Being
Galentine’s Day Resonates with Women as a Female-Focused Force for Health and Happiness
It may have started as a parody, but Galentine’s Day has emerged as a pop culture phenomenon that underscores the importance of female friendship.
Introduced in 2010 on the television comedy “Parks and Recreation,” Galentine’s Day (Feb. 13, the day before Valentine’s Day) is now celebrated as a special occasion for women spending time with their female friends. The “holiday” now resonates with all ages as an uplifting act of female bonding.
And one that has positive mental health and well-being benefits.
By fostering deep, supportive female friendships, Galentine’s Day validates studies that show female bonding can decrease stress, increase oxytocin and serotonin levels (improving mood, sleep and happiness), combat loneliness, and boost self-worth which is essential for positive emotional health. Strong female friendships also can protect against heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and even the common cold, research shows.
Additionally, studies suggest that women are more comfortable than men in turning to friends for support. That these friends are women only underscores the importance of social connection women have with other women.
A Harvard Nurses’ Health Study showed that women with strong social networks had lower blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease, and a 60 percent lower chance of premature death compared to those who were socially isolated. Other studies found that women who regularly engage with close friends have lower cortisol levels, reducing the harmful effects of chronic stress.
Galentine’s Day had real-life resonance in a world starved for human connection after the pandemic as people searched for reasons to intentionally gather with their communities. Celebrating the benefits of platonic women-on-women love turned out to be no joke. This brand of women-positive wellness was pop culture proof of something women have always traditionally known and nurtured.
Galentine’s Day has come to be the icing on the girl-power cake.
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