Some of you might have seen my bold comments regarding what women should and shouldn't post or say on LinkedIn, but I think it's due time I just bluntly spit it out. There's a lot of women who need a social platform wake-up call. Especially those that whine and cry about being objectified, or un-hirable "because of how they look". News flash: there's millions of successful women in the world - and their looks didn't prevent them from attaining where they are.
While I speak towards the amateur actions and content produced by women on LinkedIn for the majority; I'm really speaking to any social media outlet we can post to that a current or potential employer and/or client can easily access (FaceBook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.). You all know exactly what I'm talking about, without me putting it plainly.
Without them, We'd be giving the fight today
For nearly 72 years women fiercely fought for the respect, equal rights, and overall ability for us to make an impact in the world, and in our own personal lives just as men did. Without a doubt, those founding women would turn in their graves, if they saw the masses of attention starved women using their tactless words, physical looks, and bodies for worthless praise and attention.
To avoid taking for granted the rights that those women fought earnestly to achieve for future generations, we can only do so by respecting ourselves and others. This means as we strive for success, we use our gained knowledge, self-motivation, and complete determination to accomplish our goals. Mark my words, anything achieved by unprincipled ways will be fleeting.
Too many women nowadays - have construed what defines success and self-worth. A ridiculous notion that no matter what it takes to get to the top, you do it (think Kim Kardashian, obviously not all instances being as extreme). The media is unarguably the enhancer of this clouded perception, having the most negative impact. With technology and our access to all things increasing, it's becoming alarmingly worse. As a mother of two little girls, it terrifies me. I'll have to teach them that filters and the amount of likes they get on their photos DO NOT quantify their worth.
I can post it, this is my "Profession"
"I'm a model". Honey - you're half naked, you've blurred your wrinkles out so much with Photoshop that you make Barbie look hungover, and we all know your eyes aren't blue. Just because you put on a tight designer dress, and promote a company doesn't mean that you've got a profession. You've got a JOB.
To clarify and definitely not offend, there are types of "modeling" out there that can be a profession (think runway). However, you dressing like a hussy to promote "Big Joe's Bar", and posting to social media is a cry for attention and senseless validation. Some might call me cruel - but you should be striving for more. Someone, somewhere - is looking up to you to set an example and you're letting them down.
From those working in entry level roles to CEO's - these are women working to make a difference in their lives, and likely the lives of others. Their focus is to do well at work, and hopefully move up increasing their skillset value. W
We're not going to "Swipe Right"
For the love - please stop posting selfies with pathless quotes or "to-do's". I got into a little tiff recently when I commented on a woman's post via LI, who had posted a picture of herself in a tight dress with half her chest showing. She was a "lifestyle coach", who claimed she was "in triple digit weather", and was trying to stay cool when she took the photo. My point had been, posting an image of herself had absolutely no relevancy on the "words of wisdom" she was preaching.
If anything, it deterred the majority from perceiving what she said as positive worth they could apply to their own lives. You could see that many women felt disrespected by her objectifying tactics. If you were to break it down in psychological terms, her main goal was to simply draw physical attention to herself. Had it not been, she would have used a photo of herself - because in no way that you spin it; can you find any relevancy in a purpose of doing so. Say that she had used a photo of a baby elephant, that would have had significantly more profound meaning. You can bet about 30 dirty old men commented on her "brilliance". I love coming across these guys, as apparently they're ignorant to the fact that their coworkers and community residents can see their piggish comments.
Seriously though, I could care less about the damage she decides to inflict on herself and her professional image. That might come off harsh, but the reality is deep down inside she knows that she's craving the validation. What I do care about - is there's a beautiful woman who probably has the ability to be extremely intelligent. Instead, she's seeking the approval and attention of others by posting a provocative photo. Therefore setting an example to other potentially influenced women who will now blindly follow suit.
Women are doing this far too frequently, and only women. I've yet to see a photo of some random chiseled man with his obliques hanging out on LinkedIn, with a quote tied to it along the lines of "Oh sunshine rays inspire me to be great, love-joy-and peace unto the world". Here's why: because it's only women who are acting out on such a large and damaging scale, simply to gain what they want.
It's time to inspire our future generations of women
Let me start off by saying, I'm so far from being a feminist. Truly. I'm just tired of being exposed to these senseless tarts, that my daughters will someday be exposed to. I want them, and every other future woman to know that her worth is not decided by others, nor is it determined by how attractive we are. It's decided by her own self, in the type of person that she decides she wants to be. It'll be because of her goals she accomplishes, the lives that she changes, and the overall happiness that she allows herself to build.
If you're proud of a promotion, seeking a job, or looking to inspire - do it by means other than your physical appearance. It causes whatever brilliant thing you're wanting to accomplish - to lose it's genuine message. In all truthfulness - by promoting yourself; tying your face and body to any content you post - you're failing to inspire. It's a superficial claim of codependency; without having you to state it, that you're either highly insecure or completely narcissistic.
