One of the main reasons I wanted to write about female friendship

The writer and storyteller Dawn O’Porter, whose works often illuminate the inner worlds of women, once said: “One of the main reasons I wanted to write about female friendship is because it's so powerful and underestimated.” In these few words, she speaks to a truth that is both ancient and eternal—the quiet strength of friendship among women, and how, though it moves without noise or ceremony, it has shaped the course of countless lives and generations. O’Porter’s reflection is not merely about companionship; it is about power—the kind that heals, uplifts, and binds souls together in ways that the world too often overlooks.

The meaning of this quote reaches deep into the heart of human experience. In every age, the power of female friendship has been a force that sustains and transforms, yet it is rarely celebrated with the grandeur it deserves. It exists in the unseen acts of care, in late-night conversations, in the holding of hands through grief and laughter, in the strength that one woman gives to another when the world has forgotten her name. Romantic love may steal the spotlight, but friendship—steady, loyal, and enduring—is the true heartbeat of life. O’Porter calls us to look again at this sacred bond, not as a gentle whisper but as a foundation of resilience and hope.

The origin of her reflection can be traced to her own understanding of the female spirit. In her novels and essays, O’Porter captures the complex, beautiful, and often misunderstood layers of women’s lives—their vulnerabilities, humor, and strength. Her words remind us that female friendship has long been underestimated precisely because society has often feared the unity and independence it represents. When women come together in trust and solidarity, they create a space where truth can be spoken, and transformation begins. In that communion, they find the courage to stand against oppression, to heal from pain, and to build a better world for those who come after.

History, too, bears witness to this power. Consider the friendship between Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, two women whose bond changed the course of history. Together, they forged the women’s suffrage movement in America, not as rivals but as sisters in purpose. Through letters, speeches, and shared vision, they lifted each other’s spirits through years of rejection and struggle. Their friendship became the soil from which the rights of millions would bloom. It was not driven by fame or wealth, but by shared conviction—a perfect embodiment of O’Porter’s truth: that female friendship is a power underestimated until it changes the world.

This truth extends beyond politics or reform; it lives in every home and heart. Think of the countless unnamed women who have carried each other through the battles of life—mothers and daughters, sisters and friends, caretakers and confidantes. Their strength rarely makes headlines, yet it sustains families, communities, and nations. When one falters, another stands beside her; when one triumphs, all rejoice. In these small and quiet acts of love, we see the divine essence of friendship—a force that requires no recognition to be real, no title to be great.

O’Porter’s insight also speaks to the need for recognition and reverence. The world often romanticizes passion and ambition but forgets the sacred intimacy of friendship—the bond that expects nothing but gives everything. Friendship between women is not a secondary story in life; it is the soul’s great narrative of understanding. When two women share their truths without fear of judgment, they perform a kind of magic: they remind each other of their worth, they return one another to wholeness. That, O’Porter insists, is power.

The lesson is clear and timeless: cherish the friendships that give you strength, and honor those who walk beside you in the shadows and the light. Never underestimate the quiet allies in your life, for they are the pillars upon which your spirit rests. Speak gratitude, nurture connection, and defend your sisters with courage. For when friendship among women is acknowledged as sacred, it becomes a source of transformation not only for individuals but for humanity itself.

So let this truth be carried forward: female friendship is not fragile—it is elemental. It endures wars, time, and silence. It is both sanctuary and storm, both tenderness and power. Dawn O’Porter, through her simple yet profound words, reminds us that such friendship is not merely companionship—it is one of the greatest forces of creation and renewal the world has ever known. And those who honor it will never walk alone.