I come from a long line of strong ladies. Both my mother and my grandmother (whom I called Mammaw) inspired me to become the woman that I am today. Each of them passed along pearls of wisdom to me when it came to the subject of beauty.
Mammaw had a theory that applying a little lipstick made everything better. She always took pride in her appearance and taught me the importance of taking care of myself. Being feminine was always something to be proud of.
My mother, on the other hand, always taught me that beauty was more than skin deep. When I was a teenager, she sat me down and told me to hold my head high and be proud of who I was. I learned from her that beauty was not only on the outside but that it resided inside me as well. An inner light was ignited in me that day, and it's been glowing ever since.
Not every young girl is fortunate enough to have a strong woman in their life to inspire them. According to recent Dove Global research, only 11% of girls worldwide are comfortable using the word “beautiful” to describe themselves.
In fact, when girls feel bad about their looks, more than 70% (age 15-17) avoid normal daily activities, such as attending school, going to the doctor, or even giving their opinion. Eighty percent of women agree that every woman has something about her that is beautiful but they do not see their own beauty.
These sobering statistics inspired the Dove Dove Self-Esteem Weekend, which will take place October 21st – 23rd. The folks at Dove believe that by helping girls build a positive relationship with beauty, we can help them reach their full potential.
That is why they are asking all of us to pledge to spend an hour participating in a self-esteem building activity with a young girl during the Dove Self-Esteem Weekend. It could be something as simple as helping her to create a play list of positive songs to listen to when she's feeling down.
You could also allow a young girl to teach you a new skill to help build her confidence. Your activity can be as simple as starting a conversation about real beauty, but the impact can be huge.
I can attest to the fact that powerful positive messages stay with a girl well into womanhood. To this day, seven years after Mammaw passed away, I can still hear speaking to me.
If I'm having an especially hard day, I will hear her say, "Okay sugar, get up off the couch, put on a little lipstick, brush on some mascara, and comb that hair of yours. You've got some livin' to do." I always feel better after I follow her heavenly advice.
Here are ways that you can participate in the Dove Self Esteem Movement.
Take just a moment to add your activity to the map on the Dove® Facebook page and inspire others with your commitment.
Check out the Community Tool Kit for ideas on how to spend that time with the girl in your life.
Share your story of inspiration and Dove® will donate $1 to Girls Inc.
So, who inspired you and why? Do you think that it's important to foster confidence in young girls? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
