By Taylor Aviles

All you females out there, LOVE WHO YOU ARE! Your unique individuality, your strength, your beauty makes you… well, YOU. We are ever too eager to make others happy before we, ourselves, are happy. As my mom always tells me, “You must love yourself before you can love others”. Although, I have discovered that most media tells exactly the opposite. Ever since I can remember I have been a consumer of female, gossip magazines. It was always a joy to pick up that new issue and read the latest trends, the next best fat busting workout, or how to be a better kisser. As I have gotten older and been exposed to more in life I have realized that most of these articles tell women and girls how to be better. There always seems to be room for improvement and in most cases the improvement is geared toward appealing to men. They leave behind the scent of “You’re not good enough, so here’s what you have to do”. In a way these magazines train you to believe that you are not quite adequate enough.

My question is, why do we have to change who we are? Why are men exempt to doing more? You can find thousands of articles on “How to keep your man”, “10  best ways to please him in bed”, “Sure fire ways to catch his eye”. In men’s magazines it is rare to find an article that suggests doing more the please their women. We claim that society has evolved, but I feel that we have reverted to the 50′s mentality. The men are given the notion that they must be strong, tough and dominant. For women, we are expected to be submissive, do what we can to make men happy and appeal to their desires to keep them around. These perceptions block women from their true identity.

Many girls find themselves lost in an entanglement of characteristics that they are told they should have. I believe that we should take note of strong women who pride themselves on sticking to their guns on being genuine. They aren’t afraid to be who they are and don’t accept anything less than greatness. I hope that this tempts you to think twice before believing everything you hear and see in the media.

Keep your voice heard, keep your identity and stay strong!

Taylor