Thanks for being so open and vulnerable with us. This piece is so heartbreakingly relatable: growing up in the 00s really did a number on so many of us. The pressure to look a certain way yet adapt to the new trend or beauty standards, the unhealthy internal self-talk... I don't think it ever quite leaves you, and I know I really have to work to unlearn it all.
ugh yes you're so right! I somehow always forget about the mess that was low jeans and hip bones in the 2000s (which I was SO into btw) but that culture was such a huge part of growing up. I mean I devoured The Simple Life and ANTM and all the things. I don't even know how I'd begin to unlearn it honestly, it feels just so deeply wedged in there. I'm sorry you've also felt this too. š¤
Angela this is equal parts heartbreaking and relatable. I think even if the thoughts didn't cement themselves in our brains, the majority of women I know understand the feeling of poking at our bodies. I will never forget the pressure of the thigh gap when I was growing up, and my God do I hope it's different for the little girls growing up today. This is so delicately written.
yes!! Literally and emotionally always poking at ourselves. And oh my god the thigh gap!!! How could I forget?! It took me FOREVER to realize that some women will just never have that no matter how thin (even at my thinnest and most in shape I have never ever had a gap).
I'm so sorry you've experienced this as well š¤ I really do hope it's different for girls today. I think some of it will always be there, innately, and I wish that weren't true, but I think it is. However, I am grateful there's so much more body positivity than we ever had growing up. It was basically non-existent in the 90s/early 2000s.
Thank you for sharing this, Angela. So much here resonated with me.
Iām sorry it also resonated with you but Iām so happy it found you. Thank you for reading š¤
Thanks for being so open and vulnerable with us. This piece is so heartbreakingly relatable: growing up in the 00s really did a number on so many of us. The pressure to look a certain way yet adapt to the new trend or beauty standards, the unhealthy internal self-talk... I don't think it ever quite leaves you, and I know I really have to work to unlearn it all.
ugh yes you're so right! I somehow always forget about the mess that was low jeans and hip bones in the 2000s (which I was SO into btw) but that culture was such a huge part of growing up. I mean I devoured The Simple Life and ANTM and all the things. I don't even know how I'd begin to unlearn it honestly, it feels just so deeply wedged in there. I'm sorry you've also felt this too. š¤
Angela this is equal parts heartbreaking and relatable. I think even if the thoughts didn't cement themselves in our brains, the majority of women I know understand the feeling of poking at our bodies. I will never forget the pressure of the thigh gap when I was growing up, and my God do I hope it's different for the little girls growing up today. This is so delicately written.
yes!! Literally and emotionally always poking at ourselves. And oh my god the thigh gap!!! How could I forget?! It took me FOREVER to realize that some women will just never have that no matter how thin (even at my thinnest and most in shape I have never ever had a gap).
I'm so sorry you've experienced this as well š¤ I really do hope it's different for girls today. I think some of it will always be there, innately, and I wish that weren't true, but I think it is. However, I am grateful there's so much more body positivity than we ever had growing up. It was basically non-existent in the 90s/early 2000s.
Great read, your vulnerability and openness to share your story makes your writing so powerful.
Thank you Connor, I really appreciate that!!