The Ideal Woman

When it comes to women – they are expected to be flawless, skinny, fair and quiet. This idea of the ideal woman is what governs our minds. Everyone wants a skinny and fair daughter, wife and sister. But we can’t blame the people because isn’t this what has been taught to us that a girl should be the epitome of perfection and purity and that she is born to make sacrifices. And the sad part is that, our media which has such a big influence on the people, only have the women newscasters as if they are headed to a cocktail party. Magazine covers depict women who are tiny and flawless. All this hypocrisy causes an insecurity in the mind of a normal girl about her appearance, weight, height or skin colour. These teen girls fall prey to bullying and eventually to self-hatred. It is high time that the biggest influencers on the planet i.e. the people in the show biz, media and fashion stop such hypocritical glassy portrayal of how a woman should be. When the creator himself didn’t judge us or made any criteria of a perfect woman then who the hell are we to judge.

Another disturbing aspect is that, these restrictions and norms are only for women not men. A man can be fit, fat, dark, fair or anything but his appearance or physique will never affect his chances of marriage or a better future. We are not saying that men can have it all easily but it is not that difficult for them as it is for a woman. Internet is a big platform in which everyday millions of girls are body shamed just because they do not fit into the criteria of an ideal woman. Not even the celebrities are safe from this body shaming. The want to be the skinniest and the most desired has led many teens into the darker side of our world from which no one can come out.

Also, a woman is considered attractive only until she is in her mid-30s and then after that she is shoved in one corner and left alone to be forgotten. This is the condition of many film stars and news reporters who are not given work after they become old. But why not the men? The men can still work with heroines the age of their daughters and granddaughters. But when a woman tries to do it she is shamed and trolled for being casted opposite a person much younger than her. Why such double standards? And, of course the ideal women and her duties towards her family and husband bullshit that has been fed to us from the old days. How can a woman who works be labelled less feminine or how can her work make her irresponsible towards her family? Working or not working every woman is the same. She can be an HR or a housewife, she deserves respect and independence. And how is it fair that in a country where women are worshipped as goddesses, in the same country women have to fight for their basic rights. Women need to empower other women so that they can also have a meaningful life. Everyone has their moment of weakness but that does not mean that we are vulnerable damsel in distress. As It is said, women do not need empowering they are already empowered and strong. They just need the world to accept them as they are with all the scars and flaws.