Alternative living arrangements
Hi there community!
If you're not interested in the pervasive life path of buying a house and having kids, the lack of options around us can seem like there really aren't any. Probably very few of us know women who arranged their lives in a different way.
I think seeing what different alternatives can look like gets the imagination going and gives ideas of where to go, what to look for and who to ask to eventually end up with the kind of life you want for yourself.
Without further ado, here are some stories of women living in uncommon ways to give you some inspiration.
7 friends build their dream home together
At first it began as a joke, but these 7 friends made it a reality. They pooled over 500k, bought and remodeled an old house to fit their needs.
I'm sure this is no utopia and they have their issues. It's also a very special story, not everybody finds themselves with other female friends that could be good house mates and who also want a living arrangement like this one.
It's still a good example of what life success can look like outside of the cookie cutter "marry and have kids" model.
Bird's Nest: a women-only tiny house village
Robin Yerian found owning a regular house wasn't for her, so she sold it. At a tiny house gathering she found some good contacts to get her own home on wheels.
After some time, she bought some land, added water and electricity and rented out spots to other women with tiny homes.
Women's Lands
In the 70s several groups of feminists who wanted to live together, away from men and away from city life bought land and made their own communities.
These are rooted in the second wave of women's rights movements, so they're often focused on lesbians and feminism. They often care more about actual interest, involvement and commitment than sexuality, though, but it's important to keep it in mind!
The Babayagas' House
A group of senior women wanted community life for their retirement age but they wanted it their own way. So they created a self-managed housing project that could provide it. They live in a building in the outskirts of Paris, which has 21 small flats for residents and 4 flats they rent out to students.
Sisters of the Valley
This one is quite a treat. A group of progressive activist nuns have a community where they grow hemp and make products out of it.
Umoja and Jinwar
Umoja is a women's only village in Kenya, begun by a group of women tired of misogynistic violence. They did not know how to make a living for themselves at first, and they did not know how to grow food. They got by selling traditional crafts to tourists and eventually they got help from organizations and the government.
Women in Syria were partially inspired by Umoja to create their own women-only village to have a place to live away from the violence of men. Construction began during a civil war, and yet the project succeeded and the village was established.
Beguines: lay nuns
In the middle ages women began practicing devoted religious lives without formally joining any established religious order. Eventually they formed religious communities with a strong charitable inclination.
They supported themselves, they did not depend on the church.
Sadly, the last beguine passed away in 2013, so the movement would have to be revived.
All-women apartment buildings
Apparently there aren't many of these around. But you can always try finding one near you, or make one yourself!
Easier said than done, of course, but it's a project that might resonate with some of you. There are many ways to manage them, from an organization of owners that manages the building, to owning the building and renting the units out.
NY Post article on the last all-women apartment buildings of New York
Female-only boarding houses
Again in New York, but similar options can be found all over the world. These boarding houses tend to be run by religious organizations and thus have rules that might be strict for some.
Young and elderly cohabiting projects
Some countries have "intergenerational housing" projects that pair students with elders to share housing costs.
In the Netherlands this is actually free for the students in one case.
While these initiatives are not necessarily women-only, you can make it that way by only accepting another woman as a house mate.
Dutch students are living rent free for socializing with the elderly
Van life
Last but not least is, of course, the trendy camper van! A much more mobile lifestyle that you can take temporarily while studying far from home (cheaper than rent and you get to keep the van), pay some debt, save for a bigger project or any other reason.
Female-only van life Facebook community
Whick one did you like the most?