The trend of women-only work spaces and social areas is not new. We have seen resurgence in this trend in recent months as women seek to cater to female professionals and entrepreneurs in spaces they work in and play in, to ensure that they are able to excel in all areas of their life, and feel confident doing so.
Below are a few spaces created not only to work in, but to also have fun.
The Wing, inspired by 19th and 20th century American woman’s clubs , is a New York based female social and co-working club. It was founded by Lauren Kassan and Audrey Gelman, after they realised that women needed spaces to connect with each other, to build their careers and to get their hair done. The space has conference rooms, open plan work spaces, a salon, a lactation room, showers, an on-demand make-up area, a library, kitchen and locker rooms. The annual fee is $1950 – 00 (R 25689,10) and allows members to have access to the club and other club community events.
The Coterie Company is a startup company that has established eight female focused co-working spaces across America. The members are required to pay a monthly membership fee that gives them access to a full-time concierge, wellness programs, a hydro massage suite, community workspace and a network of professional women. 10% of their gross revenue is donated to the following causes: worldwide water projects , the fight to end human trafficking, advancing education for women globally and community development. Joanna Bailey, design consultant, entrepreneur and founder of Coterie Company plans to roll out more co-working spaces across 40 cities in four years, thus diluting the male dominated co-working market.
Founded by Grace Kraaijvanger, The Hivery, a California-based female only co-working and inspirational space, was created to cater and support female entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and creatives. The space allows women to feel accepted and supported in their professional and personal endeavours. They have an eight day a month membership fee which allows its members to access fast Wi-Fi, co-working multipurpose rooms, four individual conference rooms, printers, daytime and overnight storage, coffee, tea, personal and career development workshops and community events. The Hivery launched its ‘We Rise’ Scholarship Program , inspired by Maya Angelou’s, Still I Rise poem, to empower, contribute and support passionate women who have chosen to work tirelessly toward equality. Other spaces that have a similar approach are One Roof Women, which is a female focused co-working and lifestyle space based in Los Angeles and Melbourne, and Quilt, an online platform that allows women to offer their homes as female-only co-working spaces or to be a guest in other people’s homes.
By: Tumelo Mojapelo
—
Image credit: Stephanie AND Curbed New York AND The Coterie Company AND Domino Magazine
Video Credit: Wall Street Journal AND The Hivery
