This Women’s Day a friend asked me if I could write a piece for her blog and I agreed to. At this stage I had no idea what I would write about and as I started scrolling through social media, I realized that the content that we consume on a daily basis has a lot to do with the way we think. So here goes.
Here are 10 Things that can help you be a perfect woman
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You get the drift! The truth is that there is no one list that fits all. Yet the media industry and society want to sell you a template that according to them, makes you perfect.
Let me give you a sneak peek into the industry:
Take a lifestyle website for example: A team of content writers is put together to write about topics that would drive a high amount of traffic to their website. The juicier the article, the more eyeballs it attracts. This traffic on their website leads to ad revenues for the lifestyle brand.
There might be very little science and logic involved in the articles that tell you about where you should live, how you should plan your wedding, who you should date, how you can get the dream job, a bikini body and more. These articles are neither written by experts nor by people who have gone through these experiences.
(Most likely, written by a 21–30-year-old, working with the brand. The irony — this could be a woman selling a fantasy to another woman)
We are all guilty of consuming such content. These publications and media houses thrive on a woman’s insecurity and do every bit to make her feel insufficient. They talk about the color of your skin, the kind of wedding you should have based on your personality, how celebrity A can be your new BFF, how your mannerisms could push people away and what you can do to be the “perfect” host.
This kind of content is disguised as self-help content but let’s be honest — when has reading a PopXo, MissMalini or Buzzfeed article changed anyone’s life? Has it made you productive? Has it helped you appreciate your life?
(Yes, they are entertaining but at what cost?)
The answer is that it has only made you question your choices, compare your lifestyle and then left you unhappy, un-appreciative, wanting for more.
(10 signs that you make you a dull and unhappy soul)
Thee media houses preach self-love and teach how to transform yourself in the same magazine issue. Talk about being hypocritical! The next time you come across an article that sells the idea of ideal or perfect — call it out. Give them a run for their money!
Instead of chasing a goal that was defined for you by someone else, let’s share authentic experiences and stories that help us define our own goals. We can be great players and cheerleaders at the same time.
