As I watch my fearless and confident 6-year-old daughter, I often feel a deep sense of pride. Yet, there are moments when fear creeps in. I ponder who might try to undermine her, who will attempt to fill her mind with insecurities.
Having experienced it myself, I understand that society will eventually challenge her self-assurance. She may start to feel self-conscious about her minor flaws and obsess over her appearance, worrying about things like her weight, even if she is perfectly healthy.
From a young age, she will receive the subtle message that her voice carries less weight than those of her male peers. She’ll notice how boys are often favored in discussions, and she may be told to let others take the spotlight. They might say that boys tease her because they like her, and she could be critiqued for being too loud or too assertive.
Over time, she’ll learn that while outspoken boys are labeled as “assertive,” girls who speak up are often called “bossy.” This can lead her to shrink her presence—her body, her voice, her entire identity. Society will try to convince her that her value is tied to her looks, particularly in relation to male approval. The unrealistic beauty standards she sees will create an endless cycle of dissatisfaction. Women face expectations that prioritize beauty over merit, unlike men, who are typically rewarded based on their abilities rather than their appearance.
As she matures, she’ll realize that maintaining beauty can be costly—makeup, skincare, clothing, and accessories become burdensome expenses that men rarely face. Eventually, she’ll grapple with the demands of balancing a career while managing family life, only to discover the harsh realities of unequal treatment and pay disparities in the workplace.
The world will do its best to diminish her self-love, but I hope she can rebuild it from within. I want her to see through the façade that society creates around beauty and confidence. My wish is for her to hold on to the self-assurance that my husband and I have nurtured in her early years. It’s crucial for her to recognize that society often uses beauty as a distraction because confident women pose a real threat to the status quo.
As of 2018, I remain optimistic that women are reclaiming their confidence. We are engaging in vital conversations about issues like sexual harassment that have been ignored for far too long. We are advocating for equal pay and using social media to build networks of supportive, empowered women.
Every confident woman I know will tell you that her journey wasn’t without challenges. We’ve faced our fair share of setbacks and victories, navigating through the flames of self-doubt only to emerge, like fierce phoenixes, from the ashes of our struggles.
A confident woman stands unafraid to express her thoughts and defend her loved ones. She has found her voice and knows when to use it. Once a young woman cultivates her confidence, it becomes an unshakable part of her identity. And there is nothing more beautiful than that.
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Ultimately, my hope is for my daughter to embrace her strength and to navigate the world with resilience and grace. As she grows, I trust that she will unfurl into the confident woman she is meant to be, and that her journey will inspire others.