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What is it about us girls that sees us bagging the bejaysus out of each other the moment one of us doesn't follow the script (whose script, I'm not sure) on raising kids, juggling work/life balance, the shape of our bodies or what we are wearing?
There have been quite a few occasions lately when the sisterhood has turned on itself, savaging one of us for not quite meeting the expectations of whoever it is who feels like putting the boot in.
This point was made crystal clear to me recently at an unlikely venue: a fashion boutique of a top international designer well known for his sexy but stylish offerings. When I say sexy, I don't mean micro lingerie and suspenders. I mean über style, über cool, über chic. The kind of clothes designed to make a girl feel good about herself.
I was dribbling all over the array of gorgeous garments hanging seductively in front of me while being looked after by The World's Best-Looking Sales Assistant. As this drop-dead gorgeous retail therapist put it (cue sultry Michigan drawl), "All women are beautiful; these clothes are designed to make them feel sexy and beautiful, not just look amazing."
However, the salesman went on to say that a lot of women who came into the store wouldn't even try on these clothes, even though he made it clear that there was no obligation to buy (far from it, they could "try them on just for fun"). He was of the opinion that this was because they were fearful of what others - not men, but other women - would think if they bought and wore such sexy, stylish items.
And I have to say I agree with him. I routinely hear women being unnecessarily critical of what other women wear, or how they look. That stuff hurts. I'm sorry, girls - it's usually us who are the perpetrators. I have copped a fair bit of flak myself, often in negative newspaper articles or as online comments, for clothes I've been wearing.
Can we please stop it? We all have an opinion, but when we belittle others to elevate ourselves we plumb a new low in human interaction.
Michelle's tip
Self-confidence is a precious thing to have in your head space, and worth investing time and introspection to achieve. Love yourself for who you are and don't listen to those with shallow minds.
From: Sunday Life
