We set up Big Sister because we are tired of watching brilliant, capable women flounder and get fobbed off. Flounder as they enter a new life stage without the information and support they need. Fobbed off by ill-informed or time-pressured experts and social media pseudo-science
A lot of life is a series of firsts. First job, first pregnancy, first health scare, first big investment, first mortgage, first marriage, first teenager, first divorce, first bereavement. Who better to help you navigate these firsts than someone who’s done it before – someone like a Big Sister. A Big Sister who is empathetic, kind, experienced, informed and trusted.
And even more importantly, a Big Sister who, aware of the systemic gender-bias that influences pretty much every profession, can help you overcome even the invisible barriers to getting the expert advice you need and deserve.
The average smart phone is too big for the average woman’s hand.
Current offices are 5 degrees too cold for women.
71% of women wear protective work clothing that isn’t designed for women
Invisible women
The odds are often stacked against us. Check out Caroline’s Criado Perez’s book ‘Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men’ which reveals the more insidious ways that our needs are rarely put first.
Our aim at Big Sister is to redress the balance.
Created for women by women
There is way too much to do for one Big Sister, so we’re creating a Big Sisterhood.
Our Big Sisterhood of Specialists will be women who are experts in their field and share our vision to empower women to live happier, healthier and more successful lives.
We’re on a mission. No more sucking it up or putting women’s needs last. No more one-size-fits-all to problem-solving.
No more being fobbed off by a doctor who’s had minimal training on women-specific health issues. We deserve access to medical experts who make decisions based on the latest research on female bodies – not male. The Government readily acknowledges the medical gender-gap but they don’t have the funding and resources to address it.
No more ‘good divorces’, where good means women sacrificing their needs for the good of others. Women are twice as likely as men to reduce their working hours after divorce to accommodate caring responsibilities.
No more accepting out of date employment contracts, that don’t acknowledge women’s health challenges and care giving responsibilities.
No more pseudoscience and conflicting advice from dubious experts.
The power of community
Whilst we build our Sisterhood of Specialists and look for a permanent home – a thoughtful space where women can have in-person session with experts, join a class, heal, and learn – we are holding a series of in-person events.
We will develop experiences designed by different Big Sister experts to address different life stages or problems that need solving. Common to all will be the aim to equip women with the information, skills and vigour to move positively forward.
We believe in the power of face-to-face and the strength gained from being part of a community of women. We do hope you’ll join us,
Elise, Nikki, Charlotte, Founding Big Sisters
