We idolize perfection, an illusion that has many of us fooled. With the power to make girls all over feel as if they are no match for society's definition of pretty. Myself included. Today, when girls are asked if they consider themselves as beautiful, very few, will raise their hands. When asked I wouldn't dare to raise my own.
Some days I don’t feel as if I meet the criteria for my assumed flawless image of beautiful. I motivate others to shower themselves with self-love and pour that same love back out to everyone around me.When I stand in the mirror it would be a lie to say I do the same for myself. We're raising girls to become strong beautiful women in love with themselves while doing a poor job exemplifying being comfortable in our own skin.
According to the National Report, 7 in 10 girls aged 8-17 feel they don't measure up in some way including looks, performance in school and relationships. This alarming number reveals just how deep of an issue low self-esteem has become. One that can no longer be excused as part of adolescents going through puberty. The way to ending the issue at hand begins by approaching the two major factors playing a huge role in how girls self-esteem are affected.
One of the greatest factors contributing to the trigger of lower self-esteem is media. It should come as no surprise that girls are overexposed to an overwhelming flood of what they believe are acceptable behaviors and appearances. Magazines were my favorite thing to read during my free time as a teenager.
I thought that if I could get clear skin, paint my nails, straighten my hair, or wear shoes with heels, just like the girls in the magazine, then I would be more accepted and wanted. When I explored more with social media I began to compare my entire life experiences with the images and videos I would see.
After a while, I realized that media doesn’t have to be the enemy we make it out to be. I stumbled upon amazing inspiring life stories in those same magazines, that helped me gain the confidence to be myself as a teenager. Following motivational, uplifting Instagram pages and encouraging You- tubers led me to have a new outlook on social media.
What began as the thing that caused me to think twice about my appearance and the way I lived life, is what I currently use to kick start my aspirations. Rather than compare my life, I’ve found gratitude, blessed by amazing people, places, and experiences.
The best parts of media come from taking the messages within to teach valuable lessons, that will impact girls and their self-worth. It's our responsibility to make sure girls are aware they are worth more than what pressures in media lead them to believe.
We are their second greatest influence. As parents, friends, tutors, sisters or associates we all have the ability to become their favorite teachers. By celebrating our flaws, quirks and the smallest bit of imperfections we attempt to hide, we can celebrate the girls in our lives.
This is when we come together to show that we are all perfectly imperfect, in everything we do and who we are. That’s okay because it’s what makes us unique. From an early age girls look up to those around them, observing and taking note. Even as a young adult I have role models who I admire and look up to.
Most of them are my closest friends. I’m lucky enough to say that I’m surrounded by people who love themselves and are in love with who I am. Which has allowed me to further discover and become comfortable with my truest self.
Focusing on self-esteem goes far beyond the way a girl feels about her physical appearance. Dangerous ripple effects can occur from not enough self-love.
Research by Dove found that 75 percent of girls reported engagement in harmful activities, such as bullying, cutting, and eating disorders due to low self-esteem. If this isn’t frightening enough then try and rest knowing that only 25 percent of girls have high self-esteem.
We have the power to impact our girls at any age or stage in their life, to raise them already leading the next generation by example of what self-love looks like. Girls are the future leaders of our world. They will become some of the greatest teachers of the next generation.
Records have been and will be broken with girls as the first to hold positions like never before. Every single one of our girls are something special, intelligent, talented and have something great to give the world. It’s in our hands to make them well aware of what they're worth.
Now is the time that we help them to achieve all they can be, by building strong girls into even stronger women. We are the best reminders that it doesn’t matter what you wear, what you look like, or where you come from. A girls personality, quirks, flaws, talents, and anything in-between represents beauty.
