While the world has made progressive leaps in terms of female rights and representation, there is still a long way to go. Eyes still get rolled when women refuse to be stay-at-home mothers, people still laugh when women want to be independent, faces are still made when women refuse to conform to beauty standards and the world still tries to fit all women into some stereotype or the other. We had a conversation on Girl Tribe by MissMalini discussing a few things women want to normalise ASAP. The answers were incredible and so very relatable.
9 Things Women Want To Normalise ASAP
1. Grey Hair
Grey hair is normal and does not need to be hidden! Women should colour their hair only if they want to, not because they feel pressured to. It’s time we flaunted and celebrated our grey hair!
2. Our Kids Choosing To Stay Unmarried And/Or Not Having Children
Many families (especially mothers) still force their children into an early marriage and early parenthood. This is wrong on so many levels! While many mothers and grandmothers were married and had children at a young age, it doesn’t mean that their children should embark on the same journey. As women, we should normalise staying single (even after 50) and not having children.
3. Women Asking Men Out
Women should be able to ask men out without being branded as desperate or promiscuous. We can all relate to waiting around, getting anxious and checking our phone every 2 seconds to see if we have a notification from a certain someone. Why not skip the waiting and make the first move? Many women don’t do this because they’d rather be called “snooty” or “hard to get”, rather than “bold” and worse, “desperate”.
4. Creating Boundaries Without Being Shamed
It’s not just necessary but also healthy to create boundaries in a relationship. When women create them, they are often made to feel like they’re making a mistake, being untrustworthy and feel ashamed. Women want to normalise setting limits and boundaries.
5. Earning More Than Your Husband
It’s 2021, why is this still not normalised? It’s okay to earn more than your husband. It’s okay to be the breadwinner in your family. And it’s okay to not feel guilty about it! Your paycheck should not threaten anyone’s ego, masculinity or society’s norms.
6. Postpartum Depression
Many mothers face this and it’s often written off as them being moody. Instead of getting professional help, they’re mostly told to “snap out of it”, “have some ice-cream” and “get a good night’s sleep”. Postpartum depression is extremely serious and very real, and as women, we need to ensure it gets normalised.
7. Not Waxing, Tweezing or Bleaching Your Hair
Having hair on our body is normal. Having a lil‘ unibrow is normal. Having facial peach-fuzz is normal. Not having clear and smooth arms and legs is normal. Society’s beauty standards have dictated taming female hair, whether it’s on our head, body or face and we need to take the matter in our own hands. Having visible hair on our bodies and faces does not make us any less beautiful or confident!
8. Talking About Sex
Do we even need to explain this?
9. Men Doing Chores Without Being Rewarded For It
Many men are blessings when it comes to sharing the load of household work and being supportive. However, they are often praised and rewarded for it, even though it should be part of their every day routine. We tend to make a big deal out of it and make it seem like they’re doing us a favour! So, women need to normalise men doing chores without making it seem like an obligation.
What do you want to normalise? Share it with us in the comments below!
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