The sisterhood code: Top 20 signs you’re part of this unspoken female bond

The top 20 signs that show you’re a member of ‘sisterhood’ include tucking in a clothing label, warning of a wardrobe malfunction – and not going to bed until you know everyone is safely home.

A poll of 2,000 females revealed the ‘sisterhood code’, a secret language women share with each other, which involves giving a look when someone needs rescuing from a conversation and doing a daily ‘are you okay?’ check in.

Other signs include being on hand to distract a girlfriend’s child if they are trying to concentrate (27%), telling someone if there is no loo roll in the cubicle (41%) and fixing a bra strap discreetly (37%).

Sharing tissues, plasters, safety pins, phone chargers and hair ties are also fundamental parts of being in the sisterhood.

The study was commissioned by Maltesers, which has teamed up with Angela Scanlon and Judi Love to bring the Sisterhood Code to life in a short film where the duo share their thoughts on the unspoken moments women instantly recognise—and why they matter.

It also found 37% of women have a mutual unspoken form of communication with their gal pals, and 68% can communicate or carry a conversation with them using only eye contact.

The average woman will also do something that represents the ‘sisterhood code’ three times a week.

A spokesperson from Maltesers said: “These moments might be subtle, but they speak volumes. From a knowing look across the room to stepping in without a word, the sisterhood code is built on empathy, instinct and having each other’s backs – often before anything needs to be said.

“They’re the quick looks, quiet nudges and instant lift that women give one another and a reminder that this special code is woven into the everyday moments that matter most.”

The study also found 46% would describe the ‘sisterhood code’ as something that is mostly unspoken – and can be understood without anything being said.

More than half (56%) can often tell what another woman needs or is feeling without her having to say it out loud.

While 31% believe incorporating the sisterhood code in everyday life is very important, as 44% associate it with support and 23% with loyalty.

The places women are most likely to use this covert form of communication include in a bar or nightclub (36%), public toilets (26%), and in the workplace (22%).

It also emerged 68% generally feel supported by other women, and 77% think women should support each other to look on the light side of life.

When experiencing the secret sisterhood code, 77% of those polled, via OnePoll.com, said it improves their day.

Eight in 10 reckon a moment of shared humour or a small gesture from another woman can instantly turn a bad day into a better one.

The spokesperson from Maltesers added: “Whether it’s a glance, a gesture or a quiet step-in, the sisterhood code is a shared language that shows up in everyday life, reminding women that they’re rarely facing things alone.

“It reflects an unspoken understanding as well as a powerful mix of emotional intelligence, intuition and mutual support that plays out daily, often without anyone even realising.”