What’s your number? Have you been rated on a 1-10 hotness scale? What about your size? Are you a ten? Double zero, maybe? How much do you weigh? How many pounds are you trying to lose this week? Have you taken your measurements lately? How many inches are you looking to slim down?
The answer to all these questions doesn’t matter. They shouldn’t matter to anyone, and they shouldn’t worry you at all either. Beauty comes in all shapes, colors and sizes. We should know by now that whether we’re thin or thick, we should be proud and embrace our inner and outer beauty. Easier said than done, isn’t it?
Over the last few days there has been an article by Lauren Martin circulating on Facebook that speaks about real beauty and the difference between being hot and being beautiful. After reading it from start to finish, I was mesmerized with every word Martin wrote because it couldn’t be truer. The article discusses how men describe women as hot instead of beautiful, smart or pretty. Martin points out women are NOT just hot, but instead that we are many other things that men should be able to recognize and celebrate.
After carefully picking apart the article, I put thought into this issue and concluded that, in fact, women were partially to blame for this. Women let guys call them “hot” because it makes us feel special. But there’s nothing special about being hot; I mean, Barbie is hot and she’s a plastic doll! Women are meant to be sexy — but they should be sexy because of their thoughts, because of their dreams, because of their desire to be a better woman each day…They are not meant to be trophies on a wall, shiny objects to be looked out. We feel and care. As long as men consider women objects and treat us like such, we’ll never feel completely beautiful. We play along with this charade because we want that cute guy to like us, because we need to feel wanted. After all, it’s human nature to feel accepted.
I’m a 5’10 girl with no boobs and a non-existent butt, yet my jeans are a size 10. Growing up, I never felt pretty like the other girls. I saw myself as husky, then I guess it was easier to believe that than see myself as beautiful and different. My battle with self-esteem goes back as far as I can remember, especially because I’ve been “that tall girl” since Kindergarten. One day, I looked in the mirror and told myself I preferred to be average than be hot, because most of those hot girls felt lonely and used; and I would never want to be used.
There are times where women prefer to be called “hot” rather than “beautiful”. We’ve all at some point or another preferred to be called so many things instead of “mesmerizing, amazing, beautiful, stunning, gorgeous” just to fit in. The stereotype of the ultimate woman has been created and imposed by society through magazines, fashion, television, music; and it’s up to us to change it. If you ask a man what hot means to him, there is very good chance his answer will include “big boobs” or “a nice ass”. The sexiest thing a woman can have are her curves, her imperfections, her unique combination of freckles, or dimples, or crooked teeth.
Hot is the way a girl explains how to solve that difficult math problem.Hot are the girls brave enough to stand up for what they believe in.Hot are the girls who fight every day for their goals and dreams.Hot is every girl who believes she is unique, gorgeous and smart.Hot isn’t just a rockin’ body, hot is the discipline and commitment she has to herself.Hot is a wonderful mind that never stops working, thinking, imagining, loving.Hot is the way you walk down that hall with all that confidence.Hot is how you wrinkle your nose when you’re inmersed in all those books you read.Hot is eating all the Nutella you want.
Every girl should be able to feel beautiful all day, every day for the rest of her life. Girls, let’s be brave and let’s show men that hot are our size 10 jeans, our ability to do things they cannot; hot is the way women become doctors, lawyers, writers, accountants, firefighters, policewomen, engineers, car racers, mechanics… let’s show men that being hot is being able to live, to be free and to be loved.
It doesn’t matter what your color, jean size, nationality, or beliefs are. You are a woman and you are worth everything: every little detail, every little compliment and every effort. Men need to start treating us like equals because we aren’t playthings and we aren’t less than them either. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you’re not beautiful, because even without ever having gazed at you, I can tell you that it isn’t true. Beauty is not skin deep, but it is everything that makes you who you are. It means loving yourself more than loving being called hot. Like Lauren Martin wrote: “Hot is a façade; beautiful is a woman.”
*All photos are from www.weheartit.com