Girls grow up learning how they should eat, look, smell, weigh, dress, act, and present themselves. This isn't just a phenomenon of the 21st century; it has been passed down through many generations. Despite how modern we believe our world has become, women, along with our male counterparts, are increasingly bombarded with intrusive pop-ups, algorithms, posts, blogs, adverts, TikToks, etc., promoting more ways to become seemingly more perfect and acceptable to society, each other, and our partners. It's not just the beauty industry but also the roles women are expected to fulfill: friend, caregiver, mother, wife, homemaker, breadwinner, etc.—and we are expected not to falter in our appearance. Considering all these expectations placed on girls and women, where do our needs and desires fit in? There's a sense that we must fit into numerous molds most of the time. Given our differences, it seems inevitable that we'll fail multiple times. How do we manage it? One approach is to defy it and deny that we have any needs at all.
Resources:
Susie Orbach writes more about this subject in her books Hunger Strike, and Fat is a Feminist Issue.
The Dove Project has been trying to change the narrative and empower women and girls to learn how to love and appreciate their own beauty.
If you or someone you know is struggling with any of these issues, then it is worth seeking
a professional to talk it through. Get in touch with me to arrange a free 15-minute conversation.
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