Celebrating Women 2013

So,last year (you may remember) I took part in the Celebrating Women blogtour.  I was invited back this year and have been trying to decide what I wanted to talk about.  Last year I just threw something together, and I had hoped I would come up with something better this year, something erudite and thoughtful and…

Nope.  My mind is completely blank.  So, I guess I’ll just ramble on like I did before.

So, the problem as I see it for women today is the media.  The media tells us how we should look, how we should act, what sort of men we should like, and it’s all designed to make us less.  To make us smaller and more demure and accepting while at the same time insisting that we need to be more, better, stronger… it’s so confusing!  Does anyone else remember those old Enjoli perfume commercials?  “I can bring home the bacon, fry it up in the pan…”  

This is exactly what I mean, we’re constantly being given confusing and completely backwards messages.  I’ve long since stopped trying to figure it out.  So, I guess I’ll just share my thoughts on being the best woman I can be.

• Be kind.  Try to be kind to everyone.  I’m not always successful at this, heaven knows.  If
  
  someone hurts one of my friends I’ll go on a rampage.  But generally I try to remember that interacting through the Internet is still interacting with a human being, and if I wouldn’t say something to their face, I’ll try not to say it to their avatar.
• Be oneself.  There is no one else I really know how to be.  I try not to let the opinions of others affect how I chose to live my life.  I first came
  
  to this revelation when I was eight years old.  I was sitting out in the playground, and all my friends who were girls were trying out cheerleading moves so they could be cheerleaders.  I just didn’t care about any of that, and I realized: this popularity nonsense is just that.  Nonsense.  Why spend all my time trying to be popular, trying to be different than I was, just so no one would think I was weird?  It was incredibly freeing.  I went through all my years in grade school, middle school, and high school just not caring what anyone else thought, just being me.  And sure, everyone thought I was weird, but later, when we were grown, so many told me they had always secretly envied me that ability to just not care and have fun with myself.
• Be supportive.  Too often we, as women, spend time tearing each other down to “reduce
  
  competition.”  If we could overcome this programming and work together to build a better world, what couldn’t we do?  We waste so much energy “competing” rather than working together.  Don’t do that.  Support your friends, support random strangers who need it.  Generally, be supportive.
• Don’t buy into that “you need to be…” media stuff.  You don’t need to be thinner.  You don’t need to wear more makeup.  You don’t need to have expensive clothes that don’t fit right and are uncomfortable.  You need to only be comfortable with yourself.  I’m happiest in jeans and a T-shirt, so that’s mostly what I own.  Sure, I love playing with makeup, but I only wear it occasionally.  I love perfumes, so I’ve probably spent way too much money on them, but I really enjoy the different scents, so it’s something I do for me.  You are beautiful just the way you are, and don’t let anyone tell you any differently.  Especially not if they’re just trying to sell you something. You are beautiful and perfect just the way you are.

Last year I focused on a pretty basic affirmation, because we as women tend to have a pretty poor self-image: I am woman, I am beautiful. Remember that. But also remember this: I am important. I am strong. I am powerful. I am a part of the sisterhood of women, and together, there is nothing we cannot do.  So let’s all start to work together to build a strong community, support each other in our various selfhood, and try to build a better world.

I am woman. I am beautiful. I am important. I am strong. I am powerful. I am part of the sisterhood of women and together, there is nothing we cannot do.