As women, we’re often taught to compete with one another — for slimmer bodies, better jobs, hotter guys — but I think that’s ridiculous. Not only do I not view other women as roadblocks in the way of me getting what I want, I actually genuinely admire them and find them beautiful and I’m not afraid to say it. Shouldn’t it be that way for all of us?
- Beauty Isn’t Defined By Gender. As straight women, it’s expected that if you’re going to look then it would be at a guy. But why? If you pass someone who you personally think has beautiful physical traits, you’re naturally inclined to look at them and admire that beauty, regardless of gender. Surely admiring the beauty in the world is better than only looking for the negative?
- Why shouldn’t you be inspired by beauty and uniqueness? I’m an admirer of quirks. I find unusual traits interesting, so much so that I can’t help but look on in awe when I see someone who stands out. I like to view the world through the eyes of an artist. I believe the human body is a blank canvas that screams to be adorned and admired. While I don’t think everyone should be like me, I do think the ability to be inspired and moved by the beauty of our fellow humans is a wonderful trait to have.
- No, It Doesn’t Mean You’ve Jumped Teams. Admiring another woman doesn’t mean you’re suddenly “going gay,” though it wouldn’t really matter if you were (and if you are, it doesn’t preclude you from appreciating beauty platonically). You should be confident enough in your sexuality and sensuality that you feel there’s nothing perverse or conflicting in what you’re doing. You have nothing to prove.
- Why not Choose To Uplift Your Fellow Ladies Rather than criticizing them? It’s easy to assume if you catch another woman looking in your direction that she’s thinking something negative about you. I get it — I’ve been there too many times! However, hindsight tells me I should have backed off because maybe she, like me, actually saw something she liked. Always look for the good in people and try to appreciate it — it’ll be the best decision you ever make.
- Beauty goes beyond the physical. Physical looks are barely a blip on the radar when considering someone’s beauty. If you pass someone in the street, try to pay attention to the twinkle in a woman’s eye or the strong gait of a woman who knows how to carry herself with confidence. If you can see personality and soul reflected in her eyes and stature then you don’t even notice the stereotypical physical beauty traits.
- It Has Nothing To Do With Sex Or Objectification. I don’t look at another woman and wonder what she’s like in bed or what she’s wearing underneath her clothes, but I do wonder what made her so happy today that her smile is so big and I look in awe as she confidently strides away. Appreciating a woman’s beauty will allow you to better recognize the beauty in yourself, and we can all use a bit of uplifting from time to time.
- Don’t worry about making anyone Uncomfortable, least of all yourself. I get it, I do. Somebody looking at you can make you uncomfortable or worse still, make you wonder if you have snot hanging from your nose. That isn’t the intention. As long as you don’t deliberately go out of your way to make it obvious in the first place, if you do happen to be caught looking in someone’s direction, just give a friendly smile. You never know, you could just make someone’s day.
