Breaking the silence: uniting our voices
November 12, 2024
Photo by Anna Shvets at Pexels
Alessia Georgiou explores the toll of misogyny on women’s mental health
It’s no lie; growing up as a woman is tough. Throughout my life, anxiety about unwanted sexual advances and the fear of male violence has loomed over me. There’s also the persistent worry that my talents won’t be valued like those of my male counterparts.
This ongoing dread profoundly interferes with many women’s lives, including my own, to silence our voices and restrict our choices. Walking alone on the streets often makes me feel the need to run home with my keys between my knuckles – just in case.
These pressures extend to body standards, which have plagued women for centuries. Recently, I’ve noticed a rise in the unhealthy ‘skinny’ beauty standard. Trends are rising on TikTok, such as ‘Girl dinner’, where women post the limited food they eat, sometimes just coffee and cigarettes. These trends further impose unrealistic, unhealthy expectations on young women. They may think it’s cool to skip meals, to appear ‘trendy’.
How do we improve this? Instead of perpetuating these standards and damaging lifestyles, women could unite to break them down by sharing their stories, uplifting all body shapes and sizes. As B.K.S Iyengar, author and yoga master states: “Your body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.”
If you’re a young girl or woman, know that you hold huge potential. There is so much you can achieve.
Beyond these issues, many other experiences have shaped my reality. I’ve dealt with catcalling, unwanted sexual stare downs from men, and instances of being followed or discriminated against online and in school. I recall numerous debates in which my male classmates claimed that women belong in the kitchen or suggested that we should have a body count number (out of 10) written on our foreheads. Meanwhile they reckon men are free to sleep with whoever they please.
From a young age, girls in my school would talk about how they’d been assaulted, abused and raped. From a young age, I’ve witnessed my female friends being slapped on the arse. From a young age, I have had to hear my male classmates call non-uniform day ‘inspection day’ as an opportunity to examine each girl’s body type.
Two days before her GCSE exams started, one of my friends received long paragraphs of ‘confession’ messages from her teacher, filled with disturbing and manipulative claims about how he loved, watched and missed her. Despite being fired from the school and with police involvement, he continued attempting to contact her and her friends across all their social media platforms.
My friend has given me permission to discuss this, breaking the silence and sharing such incidents can empower many women and girls. However, these experiences often leave us feeling uncomfortable or even traumatised due to teachers misusing their power. These issues create trust problems and can lead to isolation, exacerbating anxiety and negatively impacting our mental health. But by speaking out, we can support each other and unite.
It’s essential to express yourself. If someone chooses to be close-minded, that’s their call.
When it comes to confronting these misogynistic attitudes, I’ve come to understand that not everyone will listen or agree with me. It’s essential to express yourself, and if someone chooses to be close-minded, that’s their call. The key is to focus on your own feelings and not let their prejudice or negativity affect you.
I know that my experiences reflect a shared journey among girls and are a common denominator of womanhood. But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you are a young girl or woman facing challenges related to sexual assault, workplace trauma or any other issues, help is available. Check out these organisations:
Remember that you are strong and have huge potential. If you are that year 9 girl, like I was, sitting in the back of the class afraid to put your hand up while all the boys are shouting out, raise your hand as high as you can. If you are that woman in the workplace having to work twice as hard as the men, keep pushing till you find what’s right for you.
Never be afraid to speak up! Eat that cookie, call yourself a feminist, be as loud and flamboyant as you want and don’t give up. Your womanhood is a gift.
