Not Your Kind of Beautiful
One thing that worries me deeply is the lack of significant change in how we view young girls growing up, despite the many changes we’ve seen in recent years.
I still observe mothers pressuring girls as young as 12 or 15 to focus on their complexion, skin texture and overall appearance. These young girls are often pushed into various beauty treatments, facials and fairness creams, with an emphasis on looking flawless rather than on their education or learning new skills.
There’s a troubling focus on making them look like movie stars or influencers, which fosters insecurity and low self-confidence when they are compared to their peers and people they know.
Shouldn't we, as a society, strive to create safe, comfortable, and positive environments for our young girls? Imagine the impact if we shifted our focus from appearance, beauty and makeup to topics like education, change-making, innovation and learning new languages.
We should teach young girls that true achievement comes not from outward beauty but from education, acquiring new skills, developing soft skills and how we present ourselves.
By emphasising personal growth, achievements and character development, we could inspire young girls to strive for meaningful accomplishments and become better individuals. This change in emphasis would foster self-confidence based on their skills and contributions rather than their looks, ultimately leading to a more empowered and resilient generation.
***Not Your Kind of Beautiful***
I'm not your kind of beautiful,
Don't fit your idea of perfect angles, nose, or jawline,
Not the hues of a perfect complexion,
The waist or gait you think is fine.
My hair's length and eye colour,
The voice you say isn't perfect either,
I'm not remotely your kind of beauty,
Not a heroine in your mind's theatre.
No stylist or makeup artist for me,
No powder weighed, no eyeliner stroke just right
No lip colour or contouring spree,
No one to check if my look's in the light.
No one to say I'm beautiful the conventional way,
No heads turn from the aisle as I walk by.
Not compared to icons day by day,
But I stand tall, and here's why:
I'm proud I can't be compared to anyone,
I'm unique and that's the rule,
Because I'm "my kind of beautiful",
Authentic, God's idea, and truly full.
Farheen Viquas
21/07/2024
#poem #beauty #selflove #confidence #empowerment #selfacceptance #inspiration #personalgrowth #innerbeauty #changemakers
#farheenviquas #notyourkindofbeautiful
Image credit: kara creates
