Women, our own worst enemy..
Recently a fitness blogger from Queensland, was slammed in social media, because she posted a picture of herself in a bikini with her son. When I was scrolling through the post, ALL of the comments were by women. Negative comments ranged from derogatory name calling to accusations of child abuse - because she was wearing a bikini. On holiday. In front of her kids. This 'social media personality' handled it beautifully, and stood strong in her post stating that, for her family this is her norm, her boys shower with her and see her naked all the time, she see's her Mother naked, and is proud of the kind of Mother she is.
Statistics show that there is inequality in the workplace, home and media for women, yet any chance we get, we take it upon ourselves to slam another woman?.
I grew up in a home with three brothers, who have always nurtured and protected me; luckily there was never competition, comparison or 'bitchiness'. It wasn't really until, high school that I was exposed to this vicious, cruel world, of girls. We know how to hit and hurt to the absolute core of our beings, in matter of seconds; with words, and words alone.
Why are we doing this?, woman make a past time of sitting around, and talking about girls they know, girls they knew, the girl next to them whom they don't know, their boyfriends ex, their neighbour, their sister; any thing they can get their hands on. We sit around and judge someone based on what they put on a computer, not knowing what's actually going on in their life.
Over the past 18 months I have grown as a woman, a friend, a sister; a human being. I make my best effort to not talk about other people, because I realised that, how I am treated is a direct reflection of how I am treating people; and if I'm talking behind another woman's back, she is most definitely talking behind mine; and I didn't like the thought of not being liked (haha). All of this growth was an inside job.
Woman who love themselves don't need to compare to others, woman who believe in their own goals, don't need to drag down others dreams, woman who are empowered in in their own skin; most definitely do not need to belittle another woman/human being.
I had a choice, and you do too. You can either continue to 'bitch' about other woman, and be jealous, but one day you'll see that you're the only woman sitting at the table. Your other option is support, love and stand up for a sis-tah. Your call, I know what I'm doing...
What can we do?:
Next time you see a woman wearing a top you love, instead of standing back, looking her up and down. Walk up to her and say "You look amazing in that top, I'd love to know where it's from?"
When you are around your girlfriends, talk about idea's, dreams, goals, journey's, your dogs new toy, I don't care, just not about other woman.
When you meet a little girl for the first time, or in the shops, try avoid saying "oh you are so pretty! look at your beautiful dress"; we are showing them that their value is based on the outside, try "you have a beautiful energy" "you are so confident, that's an awesome trait" - try break the cycle.
If you do get caught up in a situation where the company may not be at the same level as you, don't buy into it, sit silently, try change the subject, and hopefully they take notice and stop.
If you yourself, start 'bitching' take a breath and think - why am I saying this?, is it kind? is it necessary?, will I feel good after this? - if not, change the subject to something more positive.
We started this, we can end it just as easily. Let’s stop the bitching. Lets lift other woman to do the same.
I knew this wasn't my most glamorous pic, I could have posted one where I was looking perfectly into the camera; but I love how happy I look, I was in the middle of laughing at myself after cracking a really funny joke, obviously....
In health,
Katie xx.