The what society expects from women, which is

The what society expects from women, which is

The Hard WayMost women have a dream of becoming the world’s perfect person; pleasing everyonethey come in contact with. When a woman looks in the mirror she wants to see a thin,big-chested, blonde, blue-eyed image staring right back at her. Why would anyone wish forsomething different? That is what society expects from women, which is far away from reality. Everyone is different, and we all should wise up and accept that, before it takes a toll on ourfuture.

Women feel they should live up to the very well known Barbie-doll-mutation-image. Wrong! I hope that women start opening up their eyes, instead of emptying out their wallets toplastic surgeons and weight loss crocks. Society is destroying many of our self-esteems. Peopleneed to realize that “inside beauty” is the one true thing that counts. Unfortunately, I havelearned this the hard way.What do I mean by the hard way–people ask. Ever since I was in junior high, I have hadthis “Miss America image” haunting the back of my mind, just like many–ahem.

..most–womendo. I think a big influence on my feelings about my physical appearance came from a fraction ofsociety…school.

Yes, school. Junior high both girls and boys can be very mind taunting. Friends,teachers, and boys had a huge effect on my feelings towards myself. Back when I was 13 yearsold, the most important regimen in my life was to impress, impress, impress. No matter what ittook; sneaking out of the house before school with skimpy tops, missing the bus to finish perfecting the curls in my hair, or as stupid as staying up till 1 a.m. trying to figure out what outfitto wear the following day.

If I had only went to an all girl school that had to wear uniforms daily!Moving up to high school was even a more dramatic, steeper step. “Oh my gosh, I haveto look skinny for that dance coming up! I have to wear makeup to be in with the ‘cool group’!” All of these insane ideas poured into my mind, confusing my personal feelings even more. Istarted concentrating more on my looks than on school work. My grades fell pretty hard, and myfriends even noticed the change in my moods. It was embarrassing enough to show myself inschool. I didn’t want to leave my house, because I wanted to be alone. It was like being in myown world, and no one understood where I was coming from.

I would give up anything to beskinnier, prettier, and more popular. I pushed everyone away, and I tried dealing with mypersonal emotions all by myself. I was destroying my self worth, my self esteem, and mostimportantly, what little pride I still had in me. Another reason I began to want to look better was because of an even bigger part ofsociety. The media–the Internet, magazines, television shows, Miss America pageants,billboards, and even newspapers. When you have time, maybe flip to a page in a “SeventeenMagazine” and show me an overweight girl, with cellulite outlining her thighs and stomach.

Pointout a woman with crooked teeth, a huge waist, and a poor makeup job. I doubt you can do it. Ialmost guarantee that. The media confuses us…to the point where we are manipulated intothinking that this “perfect girl image” is only what is accepted these days.

Not only is it terrible,but that statement thought of by many women is far from being right.Starving myself for days and spending top dollars on clothes and makeup has not moldedme into the person I am today. As it will never help anyone out in the long run either. It has beenmy courage and strength within myself that gave me that extra self-confidence.

Also, the power Ihad to ignore society and the message they have been sending out to the world. Pain, tears, fightswith my parents and friends, ditching classes, trips to the hospital, encounters with the police,poor report cards, three years worth of therapy. Boo. I look back on all of these with animmense wince. How awful it was for me to put so much effort into trying to be good enough foreveryone, except for myself.

Thinking back on my earlier teenage years, isn’t as hard anymore. And not nearly aspainful as it used to be. I have learned the real truth about society’s thoughts and feelings. Noteveryone focuses on the outside. Like my mom always said, “The ones that judge you by yourlooks, won’t end up being good friends in the end.

It’s the inside that matters the most.” Mostimportantly, I have learned to accept myself no matter what the circumstance is. Other peopleshould take a lot of ideas into consideration, and began asking themselves…

‘is impressingsomeone else really worth the risk of your health, self-esteem, and pride?’ No. Whether theywere meant to be tall, short, fat, skinny, deaf, blind, slow, left-handed, dark skinned,green-eyed..

.it doesn’t matter. Society is like a test. In order to do well, you must be sure ofyourself. More people need to really ask themselves questions about the importance in life beforesociety takes a much tighter grasp on our self-esteems. Many will learn that the answers thatbegin to surface are astounding.Social Issues