Beauty in today's society has many labels that are being forced upon women. You have to be a certain dress size, have clear skin, long and glossy hair, a tiny waist, white teeth and big lips, when is this going to stop? Beauty has no labels so why do we continue to label ourselves? Women today need to remember this. Learning to love your body and yourself is a challenge but it is also a process, don't forget that. Women grow up believing that the models they see on their television screens, in the movies and the magazines are what is acceptable within society and also what males desire. These unnecessary and unrealistic expectations have caused women all over the world to doubt themselves and their self-worth. We live in a world full of expectations and trying to change but the question is, who the hell are we actually doing it for?
With social media becoming more influential and a dominant factor in people’s lives, these guidelines and expectations for women are more powerful than ever before. Our screens are filled with models in bikinis or Instagram influencers Photoshop pictures. Even though we all know the majority of what we see online is fake we still let is subconsciously affect us mentally. Beauty isn't any size and it definitely does not have guidelines, it may feel that way but that’s the furthest thing from the truth. In life, women try to become something that they believe will please others and they on diets because we crave to look a certain way, but the real question is for who, men? society? friends? Or is it for yourself? This isn’t a way of life that we can continue to live. The media has glorified this idea of beauty and is part of the blame, for generations films, television, magazines and brands have only represented one type of woman. To the media, a beautiful woman is solely based upon their looks and nothing else. This glorification has become a norm amongst society and we have been so brainwashed with adverts, songs and campaigns that they are just seen as normal.
This has caused us to not only be brainwashed to believe that this is how we should look but also to the point that we only think about diets, not health and we spend ridiculous amounts of money on beauty products to help uphold this idea of beauty. As women, we need to lift each other up and stand together to overcome this old fashioned mind-set. If we want to eat carbs and indulge in a glass of wine or a bottle, why not? Who actually told us this isn't acceptable for a woman to do?
Women today have overcome some massive social hurdles, they are trying to break away from how society believes they should behave and also change the male gaze theory and opinions of individuals who chose to belittle women. Yes, women, today are finally uplifting each other, posting real bodies and body-positive messages on social media account and women of all shapes and sizes are seen thought the media, but a lot more still needs to be done. Women today are still belittled, we can do whatever we want and that is shown throughout history, if we want to join the military we can, if we want an education we can, if we want to run for prime minister we can, if we want to travel the world we can and if we want to still cook in the kitchen we can, because the only obstacle we have is society, not our gender.
We are all different and powerful in our own way, we all have our flaws and we all have our faults but that is what makes us individuals. These are all factors of ourselves that we constantly try to change and improve but this is why self-love is so important today. These factors should be things we chose to treasure. Forget about who you think you should be because the only person you should be is yourself. All women are powerful, sexy and confident, you may not see this in yourself but they are there and the only person who will bring them to light is you.
Infographic by Emily Boorman
コメント