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Women: The Hard Way

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Women: The Hard Way

Women: The Hard Way

The Hard Way
Most women have a dream of becoming the world’s perfect person; pleasing everyone
they 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 for
something 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 our
future. 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 to
plastic surgeons and weight loss crocks. Society is destroying many of our self-esteems. People
need to realize that “inside beauty” is the one true thing that counts. Unfortunately, I have
learned this the hard way.
What do I mean by the hard way--people ask. Ever since I was in junior high, I have had
this “Miss America image” haunting the back of my mind, just like many--ahem...most--women
do. I think a big influence on my feelings about my physical appearance came from a fraction of
society...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 years
old, the most important regimen in my life was to impress, impress, impress. No matter what it
took; 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 outfit
to 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 have
to 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. I
started concentrating more on my looks than on school work. My grades fell pretty hard, and my
friends even noticed the change in my moods. It was embarrassing enough to show myself in
school. I didn’t want to leave my house, because I wanted to be alone. It was like being in my
own world, and no one understood where I was coming from. I would give up anything to be
skinnier, prettier, and more popular. I pushed everyone away, and I tried dealing with my
personal emotions all by myself. I was destroying my self worth, my self esteem, and most
importantly, what little pride I still had in me.
Another reason I began to want to look better was because of an even bigger part of
society. 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 “Seventeen
Magazine” and show me an overweight girl, with cellulite outlining her thighs and stomach. Point
out a woman with crooked teeth, a huge waist, and a poor makeup job. I doubt you can do it. I
almost guarantee that. The media confuses us...to the point where we are manipulated into
thinking 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 molded
me into the person I am today. As it will never help anyone out in the long run either. It has been
my courage and strength within myself that gave me that extra self-confidence. Also, the power I
had to ignore society and the message they have been sending out to the world. Pain, tears, fights
with 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 an
immense wince. How awful it was for me to put so much effort into trying to be good enough for
everyone, except for myself.
Thinking back on my earlier teenage years, isn’t as hard anymore. And not nearly as
painful as it used to be. I have learned the real truth about society’s thoughts and feelings. Not
everyone focuses on the outside. Like my mom always said, “The ones that judge you by your
looks, won’t end up being good friends in the end. It’s the inside that matters the most.” Most
importantly, I have learned to accept myself no matter what the circumstance is. Other people
should take a lot of ideas into consideration, and began asking themselves... ‘is impressing
someone else really worth the risk of your health, self-esteem, and pride?’ No. Whether they
were 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 of
yourself. More people need to really ask themselves questions about the importance in life before
society takes a much tighter grasp on our self-esteems. Many will learn that the answers that
begin to surface are astounding.

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