I just read a really good article in the Huffington Post by Lisa Bloom here. It basically talks about the importance of recognizing and commending females (young and old!) on their accomplishments, not their looks.
It both disgusts and scares me that we’ve become a society of putting a stronger emphasis on “pretty” instead of smart. Wake up, people.
Here’s an excerpt from the article I found both daunting and on-point.
This week ABC News reported that nearly half of all three- to six-year-old girls worry about being fat. In my book, Think: Straight Talk for Women to Stay Smart in a Dumbed-Down World, I reveal that 15 to 18 percent of girls under 12 now wear mascara, eyeliner and lipstick regularly; eating disorders are up and self-esteem is down; and 25 percent of young American women would rather win America’s Next Top Model than the Nobel Peace Prize. Even bright, successful college women say they’d rather be hot than smart. A Miami mom just died from cosmetic surgery, leaving behind two teenagers. This keeps happening, and it breaks my heart.
Teaching girls that their appearance is the first thing you notice tells them that looks are more important than anything. It sets them up for dieting at age 5 and foundation at age 11 and boob jobs at 17 and Botox at 23. As our cultural imperative for girls to be hot 24/7 has become the new normal, American women have become increasingly unhappy. What’s missing? A life of meaning, a life of ideas and reading books and being valued for our thoughts and accomplishments.
I had another one of those “thank God for my parents” moments after reading this article. They of course gave me compliments when I went the extra mile to dress schnazzy for whatever occasion, and later on in my life when I did a little modeling… but the majority of the positive reinforcement I received had to do with my grades, good deeds, being creative and overall accomplishments.
Don’t get me wrong, I went through my teenage years phases of putting too much emphasis on things that are not important. And now that I think of it, that was also when I was the most insecure.
But now that I’m old (haha) and wise(er), I am THRILLED to understand that in the end it really doesn’t matter what you look like since we are ALL (yes, you too, Kim Kardashian) going to end up old, wrinkly and droopy. So it is best to put your energy into something that will last a lifetime – brain power! So bring on the books, the art, the imagination, the travel, the interaction! Let those things be your focus and what you talk about. 
I hope you enjoyed my nerdy rant.
