6 Ways to Help Young Women Become Strong, Independent Women in a Sexist World

In recent years, increasing pressures have led to anxiety and stress among our children. The influence of the media, the fierce competition in education, and the change of sexual norms put huge pressure on the little ones.

Especially girls are subjected, from an early age to this exacerbated pressure, facing challenges that boys are safe from.

The rigid demands of fashion and beauty, the discrediting of their abilities compared to those of boys, the prejudices still present about the social role of women, the pressure to submit to sexual standards from an early age, all can damage the mental balance of a young girl.

Many girls are influenced by more or less subtle messages that lead them to believe that their role in life is to please others and to be perfect, not to be themselves, and to follow their dreams.

These externally imposed ideas cause a high degree of anxiety in young girls, which can lead to severe health problems, both physically and mentally. Girls are exposed to situations that often make them vulnerable to various medical challenges, but also the sexist behaviors of boys and men.

When a girl takes an attitude, she is considered inappropriate or is categorized as giving diva airs. But this should not stop them from expressing their opinion, and adults must teach them how to cope in a sexist world without giving up their ideals.

Here's what we can do to help our daughters become strong, independent women.

Don't press your daughter to be like other girls

For cultural reasons, we tend to force girls to behave "properly." We are afraid that if they are too assertive, this could be interpreted as impudence and reflected on us as educated people.

Even if girls, like boys, sometimes do things they don't like, just to follow the rules of society and politeness, some things shouldn't be imposed on them. A girl should be encouraged to express her opinions, even if it upsets others, to make decisions on her own, to be independent and non-conformist if she wants to.

As parents or educators, we should not impose on girls things that their friends or colleagues do, whether it's fashion or extracurricular activities. If a girl prefers a somewhat boyish sport (for example, football), instead of attending a dance class, we must encourage her to develop in the direction she chooses and to follow her dreams.

Respond to your daughter's needs and help her cope with social pressures

Whether it's teaching her to say "No", being self-confident, or expressing her opinions boldly, always be with your daughter in the fight against social stereotypes.

No matter how strong you are, your daughter may be treated differently than a boy her age in certain competitions or at school. What is considered assertiveness in boys, is often categorized as impudence in girls, and those girls who act too "masculine" are often scolded or punished.

We need to help girls understand that they will often face discrimination and that they need to use all their weapons to deal with this scourge. Thus, they will make an informed decision as to whether they should be direct and assertive or rather use persuasion and emotional influence.

Encourage your daughter's free language

Often, in speeches or ordinary conversations, women use more excuses than boys and have much more polite language. This is often seen as a lack of authority and assumption of one's own opinions.

We should not press girls to change their language, just to speak like a boy, because it is as if we assume from the beginning that the "correct" way to speak is masculine.

On the contrary, a girl must use her strengths: empathy, emotional expression, compassionate language can make speech much more appealing when used at the right time. Girls have the talent to oppose the things they dislike without ruining relationships or hurting the feelings of those around them. This is a gift that should be encouraged, along with the free expression of one's opinions.

Help your daughter to accept her negative emotions

In addition to the usual feelings, such as anger, resentment, or frustration, girls are often much more anxious than boys. Because they fear that they will be judged for the way they react, they repress their feelings more, which can lead to real problems related to their mental balance.

Parents can amplify this condition through exaggerated demands and a lack of understanding of their children's feelings. Stereotypical statements such as "A girl should be kind," "Girls don't say such things," or trying to distract them from their emotions can do much harm to our daughters.

There is nothing wrong with teaching your child to be good, but it does not force him to deny his negative feelings, because it undermines his ability to read his own emotions correctly. Show interest in his feelings, validate them, and help him recognize and accept them.

Don't always focus on your daughter's physical appearance

Girls and women have to deal with the enormous pressure to look a certain way, especially since the media sets clear standards for how we should look, regardless of who we are.

Concern about how they look can undermine girls' self-confidence, even affecting their abilities or cognitive ability.

The parents must build the girls' confidence, showing them that their way of being is important, their intelligence, their humor, their creativity, their leadership qualities, their personal qualities, their talents.

By explaining to girls that they are subject to discrimination and social clichés, you can encourage them to discover their beauty, appreciate their bodies, and enjoy the simple pleasures of the senses.

Be aware of the additional discrimination that people of different ethnicities are exposed to

Skin color continues to be discriminated against, especially for women. Racial or ethnic discrimination is far from eradicated and can hurt the souls of many young girls. A report found that a girl of color is 6 times more likely than her classmates to be excluded from class when she expresses her opinions clearly, is assertive, and shows unfeminine behavior.

As a parent, you need to explain to your daughter the dangers of racism, combined with social sexism, and help her acquire the skills needed to deal with this social problem. Help your child understand that her role is not to please others, to respond wisely to discrimination, and to become a happy, strong, independent woman.