Women grow up surrounded by so many competing messages. For instance, the media tells them they should be fit and thin to be pretty, while we all should know how damaging this can be for one's physical and mental health. On the other hand, women who pay a lot of attention to their appearance are criticized as "superficial."
When it comes to intelligence, they're also expected to be clever but not too much as they might scare men.
When they reach their teenage years, the average girl is less confident than the ordinary boy.
She's likely to have lower self-esteem and assume that she's less capable or clever than her male friends.
Fortunately, there are tried and tested strategies parents can use to raise confident women who put themselves first and believes in their own strengths.
Here are seven lessons to teach your daughter:
1. Teach her about female solidarity
Unfortunately, women are usually raised to believe that other females are their enemies. This leads many young girls to be jealous of their female friends or feel like their friends are jealous of them. This leads to endless competitions, as well as stereotypes claiming that male friendships are better than female ones. Teach your daughter to prove that women can actually love, support, and care about each other. Teach her the importance of friendship in her life. Women should be supportive of one another.
2. Set an example
Show your daughter that you are confident by appreciating and valuing your own talents. Additionally, take every opportunity to praise other women. Emphasize that it is a good idea for a woman to have a life outside of her relationships. Have your own interests, stand up for yourself, and show your daughter that women are perfectly capable of managing their lives. Speak positively about your body, and never insult another woman's appearance.
3. Help her set her goals and dreams
Explain to your daughter from an early age that women and men are equally capable and can succeed in any profession they choose. Then, she will be more likely to develop a wide range of hobbies and pursue a career based on what she loves doing rather than restrict her career choices to stereotypically "feminine" jobs.
4. Encourage her to participate in different activities
Help your daughter build her intellectual, social, and sporting skills. If she is interested in an activity, let her give it a try. Group hobbies are also a great way for her to make friends as well as to learn how to build healthy relationships.
5. Always take her seriously
If your daughter has a problem, don't tell her to stop being silly or that she's overreacting. Your role as her parent is to give a safe space so that she can talk to you about whatever's happening in her life. Explain to her that she has the right to be heard. That will build her confidence because she 'l learn that her worries and feelings are always valid and that she deserves support when she is in need. Non-judgmental listening can also foster a positive relationship between her and you, which will lay the foundation for a robust parent-daughter bond for years to come.
6. Praise her achievements
It might sound obvious, but girls and boys alike benefit from praise and encouragement. Yet with girls, there's an added complication. From a young age, women are taught that their appearance matters much more than their intelligence, skills, or personality. To counter that message, congratulate your daughter on academic and athletic achievements. Also, when she behaves kindly towards others, tell her how proud you are of her excellent character.
7. Explain that her wellbeing is more important than relationships
For most of us, relationships play a significant role in our lives. Of course, there's nothing wrong with falling in love, wanting to be part of a circle of friends, and helping other people. Nevertheless, girls and women are often expected to act as emotional and physical caretakers simply on the basis that they are female. They are expected to comply with other people's wishes and are encouraged to please others rather than take care of themselves. In some cases, they might be forced to put their careers and interests on the back burner. They may become unfulfilled, depressed, and resentful.
Teach your daughter what healthy friendships and relationships look like, and tell her that she has the right to speak up and say "No" to any person, even a partner or friend.
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