It's not just the labels or stereotypes that are said by people, but it is also what the media subjects you to. I was brought up in a white neighborhood, all I saw was 'white' models, or actors that were defined as being "beautiful". Of course I still had my Asian roots, at home my family would still be enforcing the Nepalese culture onto me. Just imagine a brown kid living in South London during the 2000's, I was highly influenced with the western culture, and I'm really happy to see that the meaning of beauty presented in the media has changed, it's not just beauty being presented but it's giving the message that a girl is beautiful, but she's also smart.
There are so many amazing diverse women who influence me, I'm forever grateful to the women in my family for raising me, for teaching me values and for giving me advice, and being awesome.
However there are some powerful figures who are trying to take away women's rights, as women we can stand together, and continue to influence and empower all girls, giving them the mindset that they can do anything in life, be it a politician, artist, singer, actor anything, and that these young girls can learn to love their body, it's their body, their choice!
I have asked 4 females to write anywhere on the front of their body a negative label that was said to them, and at the back positive words in how they see themselves as.
Ninotchka
I chose to write these three words because, I will not deny these words did not impact me, they did. It's terrible how someone can easily base a person's judgement by the way an individual greets someone. It's the same way how someone can have a grim way of thinking if a female is surrounded by males it means she's a "slut" or she is "easy". The word "easy" is a horrible word to use, in the dictionary its definition is "achieved without great effort", I am not a game to be played with. It's the same with the word "bossy", it was directed to me by my primary school friends, and the word was used negatively, I hate how women have to be called "bossy", whereas a man is called a "leader" the double standards of society. This word does not empower girls instead embarrasses many, and does not encourage them to speak out. I'm an extrovert, so when I greet any of my friends I will hug them, but when I was labelled as being "easy" I was taken a back, just because I have had a friendly conversation with any male individual I'm not asking to go out on a date, I am asking how you are and how is everything going, it is called a conversation.
I wrote these words because this is how I actually feel about myself, there isn't a lot of loving one self, all I see now are females hating themselves because they don't have a certain type of body, I'll be honest I'm one of the females too, sometimes I'll have a day where I hate the way I look. Instead of criticizing myself, I'm learning to love myself. I love being a woman, there are biological differences with male and female, but there should not be others telling one another how the other should behave, and what to wear or who to love.
No matter what we wear, or how we maintain ourselves we are said to be "looking for it", or other comments such as "you look ill", or a comment I myself have received was, "you've changed, you're putting on all this eyeliner, who's it for?" (eye roll) who I'm putting it for, is for myself, and sometimes I like wearing make up, let us wear whatever we want instead of there being a reason why.
Emma
Going to an all girls Catholic Secondary school, I was used to the idea and belief that girls should dress modestly. And, I'm not going to lie, up until 2 years ago I stood by that belief, often believing the ignorant and rude comments made at those who wear revealing clothes as them being 'slutty'. Even teachers would have a go at you in school for dressing 'indecently' during non-uniform days, it's ridiculous and I abided by these rules. It wasn't until I started to pay an interest in the current fashion and reading accounts of girls getting raped on the news, who were apprently 'asking for it' that I began to reconsider that idea. Why should what you wear have any effect on who you are as a person? It makes you no more or less of a lady of what you wear. Be happy with your body and you will be happy and love yourself more! If a man can go shirtless with a pair of shorts, I can go out and wear a t-shirt and shorts baring my legs. It's only slutty if you are taught to see it that way. I'd rather call it confidence with oneself.
I picked this word because that's the words I'd use to sum up my current state. Despite whatever sh*t you are going through, remember you are worth more than what you think. Keep going and carry on doing what makes you, you.
Erika
Just because I'm hispanic and wearing a dress does not mean you can whistle at me and call me "mamasita". I am not a dog nor am I your "babe". If you want attention, call me by my name or if you don't know it an "excuse me" would suffice".
Anonymous
Well we were talking about driving lessons and cars, and the boys started talking about how they want to break the speed limit. So I said that I couldn't wait to drive and go fast. They just laughed saying women can't drive fast because we're too scared. I guess I felt a little insecure and didn't know how to respond afterwards.
What I was trying to show was at the end of the day, people will always label you, or put you in a certain type of box, especially for women we tend to pit against one another. Instead we should learn to appreciate one another, being a woman myself sometimes we forget the good things about ourselves, and tend to accept all the negative labels being said. I would also like to remind those who can't say something nice, to find peace within themselves, and learn to say something nice. These women are not just your sisters, mothers, wives and daughters, they are human. We deserve the right to be respected.
"Not today, Satan, not today!"- quote I got from the amazing Bianca Del Rio
