Raising girls to be strong and empowered is not an easy task especially since the world continuously sets rules and standards for them to follow. There is a way that they must look, behave, talk and act. The world dictates what career options they should take and how much time they should devote to their families. In this context, teaching our young girls how to think and make decisions for themselves can be incredibly hard. But the article below provides tips that may come in handy for parents and guardians of young girls.
Stop stereotyping
Like it was mentioned earlier, the society loves to set rules for girls. If a girl dares to challenge them, everyone gets together, men and women alike, to batter the strong-willed girl’s ideals. If you need to raise strong girls, you must stop treating them as fragile set of individuals who are unique and feeble at the same time. Let them do the sports that they love. Let them become pilots, mountaineers, race car drivers and bikers if they like. Some girls like to do all those things while the others naturally don’t. Just let them decide for themselves and encourage them to do whatever they want to be. If you don’t do this, soon you will find them seeking anxiety treatment because they are stuck in a life that brings them no joy!
Encourage them to be independent
The fairytales of yesteryear were full of distressed damsels who needed a prince to save them. Generations of women grew up idolizing these fictional characters. Change your mindset and encourage your daughters to be independent. Nobody has to lie in towers for centuries waiting for a prince in shining armor to come rescue them if they know how to escape themselves. Let them have careers that they are passionate about so they won’t have to depend on another all their lives. Encourage them to earn their own money.
Stop body shaming
If you continuously nag your daughter’s looks, she may soon start having eating disorders! Encourage her to eat healthy and exercise regularly and leave it at that. There really is no reason why all women have to have hourglass figures while men can rock pot bellies! Everyone should aim to have a good BMI because that’s the healthy thing to do. No one should starve themselves in an attempt to look good.
Let them take risks
We want our girls to grow up like pretty little snowflakes. They shouldn’t make mistakes or say the wrong things. The world chastises women ruthlessly for making mistakes so our girls become incredibly afraid to take risks. Don’t let this happen to your daughters. Allow them to make wrong decisions and tell them to be bold. Stop expecting them to be perfect all the time because they also deserve to live their lives to the fullest.The words you speak to them from the start become their inner voice as they grow. So speak positive words of encouragement and raise strong women!