Valentine’s Day often exerts a sense of pressure on many single women, fueled by the glamorous portrayals of the holiday found online. I consume hundreds of videos of people showcasing romantic gestures, lavish gifts, and picture-perfect relationships. These digital displays create high expectations for women, only to result in disappointment, as many find themselves spending yet another year single. It can feel shameful to be single on Valentine’s day. For single women, the whole holiday makes light of the fact that they are alone with no romantic partner. Falling into the single category myself, it can feel isolating. But this Valentine’s day I want to change the narrative for women. No one needs a man to celebrate a holiday. The day itself is to celebrate love, and those who love you!
Valentine’s day, traditionally a celebration of romantic love, often overshadows the significance of other meaningful relationships in our lives. I’m here to give you a reminder to dedicate a day in February to your female best friends. At the end of the day, I’ll always have my girls over any man. No man can understand the female experience like my friends can because female friendships are built on shared experiences whether that be navigating through adolescence, supporting each other through career milestones or troubles, discussing their insecurities and vulnerabilities, or offering comfort during a heartbreak. In a patriarchal world, females must stick together and have each other’s backs. I think galentine’s day is a perfect way to reflect on the power and importance of female friendships. To celebrate a support system that will validate and amplify each other’s voices. To recognize the girls that will comfort you when you cry, the ones who will share your anger at the world, and the ones who will make you laugh when you are feeling your lowest. While romantic love is great and should be celebrated, the platonic female soulmates should not be forgotten, overlooked, or overshadowed. So how can you celebrate the most important women in your life? Here’s a few recommendations from someone who hasn’t had a valentine in YEARS. Order dinner in, grab a bottle of wine, and put on the group’s favorite rom com. Dress up, go out to a nice restaurant, and treat yourselves to a fancy dinner. Have a craft night, make customized bags, customized shirts, friendship bracelets, or anything in between. There are more than enough options to make your Valentine’s day fun, even as a single woman.
Celebrating the most important women in your life doesn’t limit the women to just friends. The most important woman in my life is my mother. She is my role model and my best friend, and while she is currently engaged, she always makes it known that I am her forever Valentine and she is mine. Whenever I feel lonely, especially on the day of love, she lets me know she is there for me and that she loves me more than anyone and anything else. When I talk to her I feel a little less lonely. My mom was a single mother for most of my life, and I primarily lived with her. Some of the best Valentine’s Days were the ones when my mom and I only had each other. We recognized that we didn’t need anyone but each other on the international day of love, because both of us loved each other unconditionally and that was enough for us to celebrate. This still stands true for me even years later. So if you are single this Valentine’s Day, make sure you celebrate. Whether it’s your best friend, your aunt, your mom, your sister, your grandma, or any other lovely woman in your life, let them know how much you love them.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 