Creating Safe Spaces for Women & Girls
Creating Safe Spaces for Women & Girls
Because we deserve spaces that don’t make us feel small.
I created this blog as an adaptation of a workshop because, honestly? The spaces I’ve been hunting for community lately have started to feel… performative. Too much noise, too many “likes,” not enough realness. Safe spaces for Black women and girls aren’t just nice-to-haves—they’re essential. We’re living at the center of multiple expectations, systemic inequities, and performative allyship. Without real spaces to recharge, strategize, and just be, we risk burnout, isolation, and losing touch with our power.
Why Community Matters Now
Community has changed. Social media, virtual events, and hashtags have made it easier to “show up,” but harder to actually connect. Add to that the pressures of work, money, and a society that keeps moving the goalposts, and it’s no wonder safe spaces feel like a luxury. But they’re not. Safe spaces are survival, growth, and liberation all rolled into one.
Women Have Always Built Communities
Let’s get some history, because context matters. Humans have formed communities since forever (The Atlantic). Women? We’ve been organizing for centuries—sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly. White women’s clubs in the 1800s fought for suffrage and public policy (Women’s History). Black women? We were doing all that and advocating for racial justice, often without credit.
Sojourner Truth in the 1860s spoke truth to power, and Ida B. Wells organized to end lynching in the 1890s (NMAAHC). The National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs, formed in 1896, shows just how long Black women have been building networks that uplift us and our communities (Crusade for the Vote). Often, Black women were helping white women advance their causes while also supporting Black men’s fight for equal rights. Basically, multitasking before it was even trendy.
The Black Excellence Paradox
Black excellence is both a celebration and a burden. On one hand, it honors achievements—the first Black woman to lead a Fortune 500 company, the first Black artist to break a record, and countless innovators who paved the way. On the other hand, it carries the unspoken expectation that we must perform better than everyone else just to earn a fraction of opportunity or recognition. Black women often navigate scrutiny, bias, and exhaustion while trying to claim their space. Safe spaces counter this burden: places where brilliance can be celebrated without judgment, where support is abundant, and where the weight of constant proof is lifted.
Defining Safe Spaces
Safe spaces are more than rooms or online forums—they’re ecosystems where respect, trust, and growth happen. Emotional, professional, academic, social—they all matter (Merriam-Webster, Harvard Politics). They’re where Black women and girls can share stories, get support, and reclaim space without performing for anyone else.
How to Know if a Space is Safe for You
Do you feel supported and genuinely heard?
Is there space to share your story on your terms?
Can you both give and receive value without judgment?
Does it let you show up unapologetically Black?
The Sassy | Chic | Geek Framework For Creating Safe Spaces
Creating or identifying a safe space isn’t passive. Here’s how we show up:
Start with yourself: Know your boundaries, your values, and what you need to thrive.
Set the tone: Infuse your spaces with joy, celebration, and the freedom to be unapologetically you.
Curate your community: Surround yourself with people who listen, support, and uplift.
Protect your peace: Not every space is for you—trust your intuition.
Amplify Black excellence wisely: Celebrate achievements without succumbing to the weight of unrealistic societal expectations.
Dig Deeper, Build Bigger
If you’re ready to take safe spaces from idea to action, I’ve got you covered. Start with the free Safe Space for Black Girls mini toolkit, complete with a one-page guide, a worksheet, and three case studies to spark ideas and explore different ways to create spaces that actually work. Want to help Black women and girls build confidence, resilience, and unapologetic strength? Check out the Happy Black Girl: PopSlayVibe Toolkit. And if you’re looking for the real tea, subscribe to my Hustle Rewritten Substack, where I share more of my why. The latest post, 300,000 Black Women Laid Off is Misleading, breaks down why spreading information without proper context can be harmful—and why honest, substance-filled conversations that actually advance women are more important than ever. Consider this Substack my own safe space, and you’re invited in.