A community is a group of people who live in the same area or share common interests, beliefs, or identities. It can also refer to the feeling of connection and support among those people.
From Old French *communité*, from Latin *communitas* “fellowship, community,” from *communis* “common, shared.” It originally emphasized shared duties and mutual help.
A community isn’t just people in the same place—it’s people who share a sense of ‘we.’ That’s why online communities can feel more real and supportive than the people who physically live next door.
Community work—organizing, caregiving, informal support—has often been feminized and undervalued, with women doing much of the labor while men held formal leadership titles. Language of 'community values' has sometimes been used to police women's behavior more than men's.
Use 'community' without assuming women will handle community care; be specific about who does what and recognize diverse genders in community leadership.
Women have sustained communities through mutual aid, organizing, and everyday care, often forming the backbone of social movements and local governance.
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