As women, we come in different shapes and sizes. Even though this is the reality, women often times feel pressured to be something else as defined by society’s standards. Instead of celebrating our bodies, some women have become less accepting of their physical beauty. The result – them going to great lengths to ensure they are ‘beautiful’ and accepted. And we can thank social media and other media forms for contributing to this.
We see more and more today the ease of access to plastic surgery and other procedures related to body-altering. This has facilitated women going to the extreme of altering their natural bodies to look like a version of Barbie. And it doesn’t help either that the media has put these women on television; in magazines and at the helm of the beauty industry. Now we are hearing of young girls as young as 16 getting their noses done; and getting breast and butt implants to look like their idols.
How do we get women back to that place of loving themselves and celebrating their bodies?
It’s Psychological
We will have to do some deep diving into the mind. Women have been fed different standards of beauty over the decades; this has fattened the pockets of those who consistently perpetuate false ideation of beauty. Which has created the wrong concept of beauty and acceptance inthe minds of women. To truly cause the transformation, it will have to start in the mind. Could we possibly have a representation of women with varied body types as ambassadors for body celebration and acceptance in schools etc. To take it a step further, beauty campaigns and brands must exchange the images they use of ‘altered’ women; with women who have chosen to flourish naturally and embrace their beauty irrespective of their color, shape or size.
Empower Stores that Care and are Inclusive.
Promote clothing that fits all body types that are trendy and relevant. We often hear the complaints from women who are not of an average size about the challenges they experience in finding their size; or how hard it is to find a trendy outfit. Inevitably that woman becomes discouraged and feels left out. Don’t get us wrong; we acknowledge the designers and stores that cater to all sizes; so, how about we spread the word about them? This will help many women to feel beautiful in their skins.
Educate Educate Educate
Education must play a part, it can be a game changer once utilised effectively. Educating ourselves about the different body types; while promoting the reasons why we must celebrate and own what we’ve got can make a world of difference. By doing this we also become an example to our daughters; we break the generational cycle of low self-esteem and low self-worth when we educate this generation of women about accepting beauty at all levels.
In essence, women, celebrate who you are and who others are around you. Never belittle any woman for being different; and never allow what society dictates as beautiful to determine how you accept yourself and others.
Celebrate the wrinkles, the stretch marks, the dimples, the skin tone; whatever shade it may be, every inch of you tells a story and holds a memory.
If nothing else resonates with you having read this post, we want to shine this single light – just to let you know that …
…You are beautiful.
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We grew up being taught that slim is better, light skin is better, long hair is better, processed hair is better. And as you said, commercials alluded to that back then and to some extent some still do. I am happy that women are becoming more confident in who they are irrespective of what society says.
I used to be extremely self conscious because I’m a heavy set girl. No more. Take me or leave me. I rock this sassy, pleasingly plump self like there’s no tomorrow.
We have to start, as you rightly said, with education. Teach our girls that there is nothing wrong with who they are and teach our boys to accept girls as they are and not what society tells them they should be.
Own your body, it is yours. Love it up!
Thank you for this note Deon, yes, we are getting there but we must continue to put those of us who embrace who we are and how we are at the fore…for our girls to appreciate themselves and for theboys who will become the men in our lives to accept us for who we are.