It's not easy being a girl. First off, you wonder whether you can call yourself a girl - or should you be calling yourself a woman, or lady? Well, I'm not exactly a lady so I'll bypass that one. But whatever you want to call yourself, I think we can all agree it's not always a walk in the park.
I've seen so many bits and pieces online and on the TV at the moment about unrealistic expectations, body image, behaviour and stereotypes, and it really got me thinking. As a woman, you're expected to behave in a certain way, most of the time, and look a certain way - again most of the time. If you're not wearing make up one day, you must feel rough or tired - it's not because you actually just couldn't be bothered that morning because it takes a bit of time to apply it all. If you're wearing trousers to work, or jeans, again - it's that theory that you must be feeling lazy that day, or you're a tomboy and you don't like dresses. Actually, sometimes work trousers can be chicer than a dress, or jeans are just the easiest thing to put on sometimes.
We carry an expectation that we should look made up all of the time - our eyebrows should be "on-point", our hair must be perfectly blow dried, straightened or with the perfect low key wave that actually takes longer to do than straightening, our make up must be flawless - all blemishes covered and all dark circles masked. And our outfits - our outfits must be well thought out, suitable for a lady and reflective of our personality. I'm sorry - but does my husband have to deal with any of this? Um, no, he gets up in the morning, showers - maybe shaves if he fancies it - grabs a pair of jeans and whatever tshirt is on top of his pile and he's ready to do. And that's fine. However, when I get up in the morning and do the same (minus the shaving obviously) then I've obviously had a bad nights sleep, or I'm feeling ill, or I'm just not making an effort.
Not all of us girls want to look, behave or dress the same way. Sometimes, I don't want to put make up on, and I just want to chill in my jeans with my hair in a messy top note (FYI - this is how I'm writing this post as we speak). But then other times, I want to dress like a girl. I want to go out with my friends, put on a pink skirt, fancy lace top, make an effort with my hair and make up and away I go. But I want to have the choice.
I'm not going to lie, I do love making the effort - carefully selecting my outfits and debating the closest shade of lipstick suitable for my outfit. So when I went out with the girls this weekend I decided I would dress like a girl. I would put on my new, pretty pale pink skater skirt, and team it with my lacy embroidered top. Because I wanted to - I chose to. I didn't do it because I felt like I should have to, or I felt like it was the "done thing".
Like I said - it's hard being a girl. Finding the balance between what we want to do, and what we feel we have to do. My advice? Just do what you want. If you want to spend your entire day in jeans, or leggings, with no make up - do it. If you want to dress up and make an effort, for no reason, then do it. If you want to wear trousers, instead of a skirt, why not? And if you want to dress up like a proper girly girl, then carry on. It's your choice.
What do you feel pressured to look like or wear?
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