Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
Today, we hear repeatedly that we should be comfortable as we are - that beauty is only skin deep. But how easy or difficult is it to heed this mantra?
Today, we hear repeatedly that we should be comfortable as we are – that beauty is only skin deep. But how easy or difficult is it to heed this mantra?
You all proclaim this mantra repeatedly
Be comfortable in your skin, be carefree
Accept your body as you are
Disregard critics, and you will go far..
*
As a woman trying to find my place
In a world that still judges me by my face
And other physical attributes I care not to mention
Being comfortable in my body is a tough decision
What’s more, honestly, judgment is a two-way street
I have to remind myself whenever I repeat
That criticism of others which I dislike levelled at me
I try hard, yet physical attributes are what I see
There are days when my weight, height, colour, all disappear
Beneath the exhilaration of an achievement in my career
Yet when I am downcast, my thoughts invariably
Turn towards all that is physically “not right” with me
All successful women in media portrayed
Are tall, slim, well-dressed- the impression thus made
Is that beauty and success are synonymous
Looking impeccable is necessary, not just a plus
I am still trying but the negative reinforcement
Significant barriers does present
In unconditional acceptance of myself, I must say
Maybe with grey hair I shall develop this skill one day…
Images via Unsplash
First published at author’s blog
I am a woman, a physician, a mother and an aspiring writer rolled into one. I write about various aspects of my life, and my preferred form of writing is poetry (or rhyming verses). read more...
This post has published with none or minimal editorial intervention. Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
Please enter your email address