In a society where your beauty is measured by outward appearance rather than who you are as a person, it is never too early to talk to girls about their self-esteem. Did you know that anxiety about looks begins at an early age and will unfortunately hold these girls back from reaching their full potential???
According to Dove global research:
- 72 percent of girls (ages 10-17) feel tremendous pressure to be beautiful[1]
- Only 11 percent of girls (ages 10-17) are comfortable using the word beautiful to describe themselves[2]
- When girls feel bad about their looks more than 60 percent globally (age 15 to 17) avoid normal daily activities such as attending school, going to the doctor, or even giving their opinion[3]
[1], [2] Source: Dove Global Research The Real Truth About Beauty: Revisited [3] Source: Dove Global Research: Rebuilding the Foundation of Beauty Beliefs
As a mother of a 6 year old girl I am always telling my daughter how beautiful she is and so does my husband, her father. Not because we want her to be vein but because we genuinely mean it and we never want someone to come along and make her feel that she is not. Kids can be cruel, intentionally or not, and as much as you build them up, 1 person can come along and tear them down in an instant. I am even protective when it comes to my family and what they say to her…if she’s gained weight I don’t want them saying anything even if in a loving way because I don’t want to give her a complex about it. But it goes beyond that because I also address issues as they arise. For example, if someone says something to her that hurts her feelings, we talk about it and I make sure she understands that their opinion doesn’t define her. I want her to know that she can talk to me about anything and that I will always be there for her.
Check out Vive Mejor’s Hablemos (Let’s Talk) Information by clicking HERE.
Dove is committed to inspiring all women and girls to reach their full potential and so am I! As a woman you should take the time to talk to young girls (Even if you don’t have a daughter). Girls are listening we just need to start the conversation. The simple act of starting a conversation about beauty, can make a world of difference in that girls life.
