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You owe it to yourself to be yourself.
By Unwritten — Written on Feb 10, 2023
By Rachel Connell
Ever since we were little girls, we’ve been surrounded by and trained in the concept of what being a lady should mean. It means being wrapped in a pink blanket short seconds after we’re born, and dressed in anything but blue or green.
It means dollhouses, and always crossing our legs in a dress. It means speaking softly and with care, and it likely means that we’ll face some obstacles in our developing years.
Maybe we’ll be declined from jobs, or paid less than we deserve. Maybe we’ll be bullied in school for cutting our hair short, or have our hearts broken by a man who couldn’t settle for just one of us.
But the thing is, none of these things are what define us as women. In fact, none of these things are “ladylike” at all.
You owe it to yourself to be this kind of woman:
Be the woman who speaks boldly and with strength, but always speaks the truth. The one who is polite and peaceful, but isn’t bullied into believing what she knows is wrong.
Be the woman who is smart and curious, and who doesn’t stop reading after she’s finished with the cookbooks her mother passed down to her.
Be the woman who wears pants to work, because f*** it, they’re comfortable.
Be the woman who works hard.
Be the woman with no doubts about who she is when she looks in the mirror, and who is always aiming for strength, confidence, and health over aesthetics.
Be the woman who compliments others.
Be the woman who goes and gets what she wants, instead of asking for permission. Who rises up in times of pressure and doubt, but isn’t afraid to use her emotions as a part of her identity and not as her weakness.
Be the woman who everyone wants, but only the truest love will deserve.
Be the woman who says I love you first, and covers the bill when they paid last time.
Be the woman who brings change, and always has a few spare cents to lend to the less fortunate as well.
Be the woman who gives more than she takes.
Be the woman that you’re not only proud of, but that you know is authentic, honest, and extraordinary.
Be that woman who shines, because to be a woman is to be nothing less.
You owe it to yourself to be yourself. You owe it to yourself to be the woman you want to be and to know in your heart, that’s who you were all along.
To be any social ideal of feminine, and ladylike is not something you owe to yourself. To be any construct of what others think is right is not something you owe to yourself.
There is no negotiating who you choose to be, but to be a woman like you? That’s pretty special to me.
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Rachel Connell is a writer who focuses on relationships, social media, and entertainment. For more of her content, visit her author profile on Unwritten.
This article was originally published at Unwritten. Reprinted with permission from the author.