Today’s Women and Body Issues

Today’s Women and Body Issues

I have to wonder if anyone is truly happy with the way their body looks. It seems like every one of my friends has something they hate about their bodies. The list just goes on and on. Let’s just take a look at some of the issues we face as women. (Sorry guys. I know you have body issues, too. That’s another article, though. If I included the problems guys deal with, this article would be way longer than it already is. And if you’re like me, you’ll get distracted about halfway through anyway :p I have such a short attention span. I’m addicted to multi-tasking.)

Weight

You’re either too skinny or too fat. I eat healthy and exercise. I have binges and tend to eat quite a bit, but I’m so skinny that my bones stick out. It looks like I starve myself. And I hate when people ask me if I’m anorexic. I’m not. I can’t believe my doctor asked me that. Geez.

Skin

You have a pimple! You have blackheads! Your skin tone is uneven! Is that a wrinkle!? Seriously, why is there so much to fuss about when it comes to our skin? The only thing that bugs me is my blackheads that I’ve had ever since middle school. Wish I could get rid of them.

Facial Features

I don’t like my nose and I hate the way my ears stick out and I hate my eyebrows and having to pluck them. There. I said it. I also hate that I have to pluck the hairs above my lip. Not that they’re that noticeable, but I pick over every little thing.

Neck

My neck annoys me because it looks like plucked chicken skin. I blame my dad for that. His neck looks like that. I hope that I never develop a saggy neck like my grandma. It looks like a turkey gobbler thing.

Hair

We have to worry if it’s too limp, thin, frizzy, fried, crunchy, poofy, flaky, and the list goes on… And is that a gray hair!? Oh no! That makes you look old! Why is it that society teaches us that women with gray hair are just old, but men with gray hair look more distinguished? So that means I’ll be an old hag when my husband looks like a well-traveled gentlemen…goody.

Body Hair

Shave everything! Women shouldn’t be hairy at all! (I still find it funny that the media is dragging men in on the whole completely hairless thing. I prefer my hubby fluffy and soft, though). Is that a random follicle!? Eek! I hope nobody saw it! I HATE shaving and I HATE plucking my eyebrows. They both take so bloody much time, but I feel icky and just want to hide myself if I don’t. Yes, I even shave my privates. I don’t know how I dealt with not doing that before I met my husband. Now if it grows out more than half an inch, I feel hairy and dirty. And I hate the random hairs that pop up on my butt. What is up with that? If I haven’t checked everything over to make sure I’m hairless, I don’t even want to be looked at.

Breasts

We’re told they’re too small, flabby, saggy, your nipples are too big/too small or they’re the wrong color, you’ve got a couple hairs there, you name it… Why does the media like to pick on our boobs so much? Seriously, I’ve developed an obsession over my small boobs along with an inferiority complex due to the media and porn that was being looked at behind my back. There’s no way I’d go for surgery, so I’m trying natural breast enhancement. I’m not sure I’ll ever be happy with my boobs, but hopefully the NBE will help.

Vagina

It seems like everything I see is a hairless, short-lipped vagina that’s all pink and pretty. Well, whatever. Mine is shaved. Score 1 for me. But my labia are sort of purple transitioning to pinkish-red and the skin around my vagina is darker than the rest of my skin. Also, my inner lips are friggin’ long. I hate when they get pinched in tight pants or get caught during sex. Plus, I don’t think they look that great. That might just be the brain-washing from all the images of so-called “perfect” vaginas. I could get surgery to shorten them, but I’ve found some things out: it’ll be weeks before I can have sex again, long lips actually just mean I’m well-endowed and there are groups that embrace long labia, and I’m blessed to even have my labia still. In some cultures, they’re considered dirty and are cut off with everything from kitchen knives to shards of glass. I’ll be writing another article on that later. It’s called Female Genital Mutilation and is one of the most horrid things I’ve encountered in this life.

Butt

I have no problem with my butt other than the stupid random hairs that pop up. I know other woman may worry about cellulite or being saggy. I use my stair stepper religiously, so I’ve got a nice rounded tush. If only my boobs would mirror my butt, I’d be a happy little camper.

Stomach

I have no grounds to talk about the worry of being flabby. My ribs show because I’m so skinny. I swear I eat lots, I just don’t know where it goes. I love carbs and crave bread all the time. You’d think that would put some meat on my bones…

Legs/Arms

Biggest thing to freak out about here is being flabby. Either your thighs jiggle, or you’ve got chicken wings. I exercise like crazy to make sure that won’t happen to me. I still get a little self conscious in shorts and worry that my thighs might jiggle a little. And then there’s the thing that long legs are sexy…Well, what about a short 5’1″ girl? Short legs can be sexy, too!

Hands/Feet

Does anybody else have those little hairs on their toes or fingers? I HATE those! They look so gross and I’m always worrying about plucking them to make sure nobody sees them. We have to make sure our nails look nice and that there aren’t any sort of blemishes. They have to be soft and pretty. Well, I’m sorry. Mine aren’t. I mean, they’re delicate, cute little things, but they’re not soft right now. Winter chaps them to no end. And my feet have little hard places on the edges of my toenails that I have to file down (annoying).

So, now you know every one of my body issues. I think the reason we share our issues with each other is because it’s strangely comforting to know that we’re not the only one with issues. If anyone feels the need to vent, now’s the time to do it. Time for me to shut up and let some of you do the talking.