In a society when we have an increase of unrealistic women’s body types being portrayed in the media, and many accomplishments by young women being undermined due to their gender there is also an increase in damaging mental health and illness. From insecurity to anxiety/depression/OCD, etc., young women are at an all-time high risk for developing self-image issues along with any number of other mental health challenges.
It is not only important, but necessary that the people who are consistent in young women’s lives encourage them and build up their confidence as much as possible. It’s important to remind young women that they have worth that has nothing to do with physical appearance.
There are many tips out there for parents to boost their daughters’ confidence without mentioning and focusing on appearance. There are several tips you wouldn’t think of, like to be careful of what magazines you are keeping around to avoid young women comparing themselves to airbrushed or photoshopped pictures. Another suggestion is to sign your daughter up for a team sport if she’s willing. There is a similar theme throughout the various tips that are out there:
“Direct your praise away from appearance. “I think that we need to make a very conscious effort to balance our compliments about a girl’s appearance with compliments about who she is and what she DOES in the world,” says Bogue. “Challenge yourself to match every compliment you give about your daughter’s appearance with at least two compliments about something non-appearance based, and do the same for other girls who cross your path — your daughter’s friends, nieces, etc.””
This is great because it is so important to commend young women and girls on things they do and create. Confidence should come from creation and accomplishment and internal sources. Teaching younger people to do this at an impressionable age will help them to have healthy self-image and confidence, as well as a predisposition to look for validation from appropriate sources for appropriate accomplishments.
For more information on boosting self-esteem, visit the source information at the Child Mind Institute website.
Girl Pow-R is a group at Canyon Entertainment Group who have devoted themselves to speaking out about mental health, and trying to incite confidence in other young women by standing as strong role models. As young women themselves, they understand the everyday struggles of young women, whether it’s too much emphasis being placed on their looks, or not being taken seriously. They are determined to oppose such obstacles for themselves and other young women. Contact us today for more information at info(at)girlpow-r.com.