…Empowering Women’s Self-Image
As an adolescent girl, I realised quickly that women and girls struggle to meet unrealistic standards of beauty, and how our confidence tends to stem from these. I also quickly questioned if our self-image should be defined by our intrinsic value or these fleeting constructs. Then I encountered this liberating quote – “beauty lies in the heart of its possessor, not in the eyes of the beholder”.
Your “self-image” is what you believe about yourself – your perception of your physical appearance, capabilities, knowledge, abilities, worth, potential, and identity. This important psychological concept lies at the root of a person’s achievement of their full potential.
A Distorted Self-image Limits Women’s Full Potential
Social constructs, sadly, contribute disproportionately to women’s poor self-image. It leads them to have limiting beliefs that constrain their full potential. For example, as a little girl, being repeatedly exposed to a magnificent library in our sitting room with books and information, and surrounded by enlightened men and women who showcased exceptional abilities, I believed that being exceptional was the norm rather than an exception. I remember gaining a Unity School admission as number 1 on the merit list, being singled out by my teachers for innovative ideas, and being only 8 when I had a proud-daughter moment for my dad being listed in the ‘Who’s Who in the World’ listing. I can say that I cultivated a limitless mindset early on and never imagined my gender as a handicap.
Read also: 7 hot business models for African women to explore and thrive in
In stark contrast to my childhood, growing up and pursuing personal fulfilment and meaning, I have been jolted back to reality – that these cannot be defined in professional and academic terms or on my own terms, for that matter. In my adult life, I witnessed a sitting president say that a woman belonged “in the kitchen and the other room”. I realised I may have been blinded by my naivety all along, and that my chances or other females could be ruined, as we are continuously presented with and buy into these narratives.
This has led me to be reflective: How do we perceive ourselves as women? And whose image of ourselves are we projecting? Is it the one projected on us by society? And is this a distorted image? And most importantly, how does this image affect our potential?
An Empowered Self-Image Boosts Women’s Contribution to Their World
Empowering women’s self-perception changes the world, not just women’s lives – the value they add to their world is in direct proportion to the awareness of their inherent value. This is not an exaggerated self-worth or capabilities, or a competition of genders. It is how they bring their unique perspective and contributions to their world. Also, it is nearly impossible to disregard societal norms as they play out in everyday life. However, gender norms become harmful when they are limiting. Here is how gender norms produce a poor self-image among women and girls
It shortchanges women’s life’s work
Gender norms, when internalised as limiting beliefs, can silence a woman’s sense of calling. Our self-image dictates how we show up, and when we are disconnected from our “why” or sense of purpose or do not follow our passion, we become disoriented from our full potential. Our decisions become based on what’s socially acceptable, and our potential is redirected to fit a mold. This is not just a loss for women but missed opportunities, hidden talents, and unclaimed impact for the world, because then, fewer women step into roles they were born for. The tragedy is that women have what it takes; the world has just taught them not to believe it. When women shrink, the world loses because the silencing of women’s potential is a loss for everyone.
Read also: Career experts identify self-limiting beliefs women should combat
Undermining Women’s Agency
Personal agency is the ability of a person to be the originator of their own actions, to actively influence their own life outcomes and destiny. Gender norms erode women’s autonomy and consequently their agency as they often defer their decision-making power to authorities, making them a second-hand influence in their own lives. It can become internalised as self-doubt or self-silencing, as they gradually lose the courage to speak up and have a say in issues affecting their lives, families, and communities. A woman might hold back her voice and not share her perspective for fear of dismissal. This not only devalues her voice, but her silence is costly, as her unique lived experience and intelligent perspectives remain unheard.
Workplace Discrimination
The way a woman’s value is perceived by her, expressed, and rewarded is directly linked to her self-image. Her self-image is shaped by the work environment, and if this work environment undermines her value by not recognising or rewarding it, it can lead her to underestimate her own value, even when she is delivering high-quality and high-impact results. Often, unrecognised value further leads to a reluctance to advocate for oneself, making women settle for lesser compensation and slower advancement in careers and leadership. Thereby holding them back from opportunities and not cultivating their abilities.
