The Bullsh*t Way Girls Are Raised Can Literally Make Us Sick

Here’s a problematic truth: the way boys and girls are raised from a young age is vastly lopsided. Look at how it plays out -  little boys get all the kudos and positive reinforcement for what they do. "Wow, you climbed that structure like a monkey!" or "Nice work, that tower of blocks is epic!" But girls? We get complimented on how we are, not what we do. "Aw, don't you look pretty today?" or "Such a sweet little smile!"

Do you see the issue here? A boy's self-worth comes from his actions and accomplishments, while a girl's worth is innately tied to just...being. Looking a certain way, acting a certain way. It perpetuates a mentality where we feel shame at every turn.

And you know where those internalized expectations can steer us ladies down the line? Emotional and physical health struggles. When we feel worthless, it's not about what we did or didn't do -  it's a deep, internalized "I'm not enough" feeling. A profound shame about our core self. For guys, that shame is over external achievements like performance, money or positions of power. It’s the difference between an inner voice that says  “I’m not doing enough” for men versus “I”m not enough” for women.

Our bodies end up internalizing that shame and self-loathing too. They sense the "I’m not enough, I don’t like myself" signals, which change the biochemistry of our bodies to cause inflammation and autoimmune problems, which are the root cause of 99% of all chronic disease and illness. 

So how do we shut down that damaging programming and the resulting illness it causes? By turning our anger outward instead of inward and directing it at the true cause, the patriarchal garbage that feeds us those impossible beauty/behavior standards to begin with.

We need to get angry at the system brainwashing us into thinking we're not attractive enough, not docile enough, not obedient enough because news flash: We're already enough, just as we are. 

Get mad at the unfair standards, not yourself. Those standards are the ones making us ill. 

Your body and mind will flourish when you say "screw the noise" and unapologetically embrace your whole, real, powerful self. Reclaim who you genuinely are -  how loud you wanna be, what weight your body likes to be at, how much of a boss ass bitch leader you are. 

The only approval you need is self-approval. So let's give those toxic ideals the middle finger and start celebrating our full, multidimensional selves, shall we? I promise both your body and mind will thank you.