The other day, in the
library at Highlands, there was a performance by a group of students
celebrating women in history. It chronicled the lives of just a few of the
women in history that helped pave the way for young women today. After watching
the video (because I had to work) I can see the great strides that women’s
rights have made; however, after sitting in class , watching the videos, and
listening to the kids I realize that we still have so much farther to go. There
were so many emotions flying that day and I have to admit that some of them
were mine. Some of the comments were blowing me away and not in a good way.
As far back as I can
remember all I have ever wanted was to be a mother. God has blessed me four
times over with this dream. I can still remember when my first daughter was a
baby and wishing she would look just like me. What the HELL was I thinking????
I can also remember being a small girl and hating how I looked so why would I wish
this on my sweet baby girls is beyond me. Both of my girls turned out to be
beautiful; however, they both struggle in believing this to be true. I know my
family has told them almost on a daily basis just how lovely they are so I have
to wonder why they don’t see what we see.
But after this past
week I am beginning to understand why. After watching the performance we can
all see how far women have come over time. From not being able to vote to being
able to run a fortune five hundred company if that is their dream. But during
class I also realized that there is still so much farther to go. I saw that no
matter how much I tell my daughters they are beautiful, intelligent, wonderful,
funny, and worthy, the world is telling them something different. On T.V., in
ads, in movies, in videos, in magazines: they are taught that to be worth
anything they have to be emaciated and flawless. We know as rational adults
that no one is flawless and emaciated is not attractive. But if we keep allowing this message then we
will continue having the problem of convincing our daughters that they are
beautiful, intelligent, wonderful, funny, and worthy.
I think Mrs. Lindberg
said it best; the solution can only come through education. When you look at a
person on the inside the outside becomes more attractive. It is hard to judge
someone by how they look when you know what is in their heart. A persons true
beauty comes from within.
