What are we teaching our daughters?

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.